Final Results and Notice of AGM

RNS Number : 2315U
SigmaRoc PLC
27 March 2023
 

(EPIC: SRC / Market: AIM / Sector: Construction Materials)

27 March 2023

 

SigmaRoc plc

('SigmaRoc', the 'Company' or the 'Group')

 

Audited full year results for year ended 31 December 2022

Notice of AGM

 

SigmaRoc (AIM: SRC), the quarried materials group , is pleased to announce its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022.

 

Underlying 1 results

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

YoY

change

Revenue

£538.0m

£272.0m

+98%

EBITDA

£101.7m

£49.3m

+106%

EBITDA margin

18.9%

18.1%

+80bps

Net Margin 2

21.8%

20.4%

+140bps

Profit before tax

£62.7m

£26.8m

+134%

EPS

8.0p

5.4p

+49%

Net debt 3

£193.8m

£164.0m

+18%

Leverage Ratio 4

1.77x

1.70x

+5%

CCR

86.6%

60.0%

+27ppt

Free Cash Flow 5

£54.3m

£29.7m

+83%

ROIC

10.7%

7.6%

+310bps

 

[1] Underlying results are stated before acquisition related expenses, certain finance costs, redundancy and reorganisation costs, impairments, amortisation of acquisition intangibles and share option expense. References to an Underlying profit measure throughout this Annual Report are defined on this basis.

2 Net Margin is EBITDA margin adjusted for impact of inflationary cost pass-throughs, such as energy, materials, and distribution.

3 Net debt including IFRS 16 lease liabilities.

4 Leverage Ratio takes Adjusted Leverage Ratio and excludes IFRS 16 related lease liabilities.

5 Free Cash Flow takes net cash flows from operating activities and adjusts for Maintenance CapEx, net interest paid, and net non-underlying expenses paid.

6 Company compiled analyst consensus estimates as of 12 December 2022: revenue of £512m, Underlying EBTIDA of £97m and Underlying EPS of 7p.

 

Financial highlights:

 

Record results, earnings enhancing acquisitions underpinned by organic growth

Another year of strong delivery, with full year results ahead of original expectations 6

Organic LFL revenue grew by 19% and Underlying EBITDA by 9%

Underlying EPS increased by 49% YoY

Ongoing focus on efficiency, with £5m of annualised EBITDA improvement initiatives delivered across the Group

 

Increased returns and strong financial position

-  Strong cash generation with £54m Free Cash Flow and 87% Cash Conversion Ratio supporting investment in bolt-on acquisitions and investment for organic growth

-  Adjusted Leverage Ratio comfortably below 2x target, despite continued growth investment

ROIC increased 310bps to 10.7%, with clear path to medium term target of 15%

 

Operational and Strategic highlights:

 

Divisional structure

-  New divisional structure implemented with regional head coordinating activities of platforms captured within the region

-  The Group's existing platforms are divided between the North West, West and North East and the Group intends to report key financial and performance metrics by region going forward

 

Growth

-  LFL volume growth of 1%, despite softer demand conditions through the year in certain markets

-  Benefited from broad diversification in both end markets and regions:

West region volumes grew 11% LFL and Baltics Platform volumes grew 24% LFL

Poundfield Products grew volumes by 8% LFL, helping offset softening elsewhere in the PPG Platform

-  Local focus, responsibility and commercial strategy supported market share gains in all regions

-  Sustainable products saw continued strong demand, with Greenbloc on track to represent c.50% of PPG production by the end of 2023

 

Investment

-  Successful integration of Nordkalk with synergies representing annualised EBITDA contribution of €5m identified in the year

-  Three acquisitions completed for a net initial cash consideration of £44.6m with average multiple of 7x EBITDA funded from operational cash flow

-  Investment to secure additional 216 million tonnes of high grade and strategic Reserves and Resources, equating to >40 years of production

-  Launch of JV with ArcelorMittal provides framework for expansion of the Group's lime business in Europe and create a new net-zero producer

 

Execution

Continued progress with safety initiatives - Total Incident Frequency Rate (TIFR) and Serious Harm Injury Frequency Rate (SHIFR) improved by 13% and 19%, respectively

Aqualung partnership to launch carbon capture facility in the Nordics with objective of de-carbonising all kiln operations

-  Published maiden ESG report with net-zero target set for 2040

 

Annual General Meeting

 

SigmaRoc is also pleased to provide notice that its Annual General Meeting ('AGM') will be held on 25 April 2023 at 3.00 p.m. at the Washington Mayfair Hotel, 5 Curzon St, London, W1J 5HE . Copies of the Notice of AGM, together with the Form of Proxy and Annual Report will be posted to shareholders today and are available to view on the Company's website.

 

Change of Registered Office

 

SigmaRoc is also pleased to announce that it has changed its registered office to 6 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BT with immediate effect.

 

Max Vermorken, CEO, commented:

 

"2022 was an extremely challenging year from an operational and a commercial standpoint. However, the Group delivered performance well ahead of expectations and made enormous strategic progress, demonstrating the strength of our operational model and management structure.  

 

This exceptional year has given us the opportunity to get on the front foot strategically at the start of 2023 with a robust pipeline of organic and acquisition investments to support our organic growth and accelerate our strategic goals.  

 

We remain vigilant towards continued variable conditions across our end markets, but we are confident that the Group can once again demonstrate its resilience and achieve further strategic progress in 2023."

 

END


The full text of the statement is set out below, together with detailed financial results.


SigmaRoc will host a meeting for invited analysts at 9.00 a.m
.

 

A live webcast of the presentation including Q&A will be held today at 9.00am and will be available via our website at   https://www.sigmaroc.com/   or on https://brrmedia.news/SigmaRoc_FY22 . This will be available for playback after the event.

 

The Group has also organised a dedicated results call and Q&A session for private investors at 12.00 p.m. today. To participate in the call, please register by contacting info@sigmaroc.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

For further information, please contact:

 

SigmaRoc plc

Max Vermorken / Garth Palmer

 

Tel: +44 (0) 207 002 1080

Liberum Capital (Co-Broker & Nominated Adviser)

Nick How / Jamie Richards / Ben Cryer

 

Tel: +44 (0) 203 100 2000

 

 

Peel Hunt (Co-Broker)

Mike Bell / Ed Allsopp

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900

Investor Relations

Dean Masefield / Elisa Frenay

Tel: +44 (0) 207 002 1080

ir@sigmaroc.com

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

2022 produced many new challenges for SigmaRoc to contend with and I am pleased to report that the Group was able to meet those challenges and in doing so surpassed our expectations for the year. We had to deal with significant disruption to customers as a result of industrial action and plant issues, volatile energy prices, uncertain energy supply dynamics and the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In response to this, we were able to identify and execute multiple initiatives, across the business, to enhance growth and support returns. Our central team was able to find savings and efficiency gains to compensate for unexpected breakdowns and union strikes. Our commercial teams locally were able to deal with inflationary cost pressures, leveraging the strategic location of our footprint and our customer relationships. Our operators were able to react swiftly to an increasingly challenging energy market, production requirements and customer demand. We are pleased the quality of our operators, the inherent diversification in our model and our strong local market positions have demonstrated their true value in a time of rapid changes and numerous challenges.

 

Overview

 

Despite the aforementioned global and local challenges, the Group delivered a strong operating performance in 2022, with volumes on average ahead across the Group YoY by 1% on a LFL basis.

 

The Group is reporting 2022 revenue of £538.0 million, representing a 98% YoY increase, and Underlying EBITDA of £101.7 million, being an uplift of 106% YoY. Underlying profit before tax was £62.7 million and Underlying EPS was 8.0p representing a 49% improvement YoY. Revenue and Underlying EBITDA have increased primarily due to the inclusion of Nordkalk which was acquired in August 2021, together with the additions of Johnston and RightCast. On a LFL basis, revenue and Underlying EBITDA grew by 19% and 9%, respectively, during the year.

 

The strong trading performance and continuation of careful and effective cash management strategies have led to a strong year end cash position of £68.6 million. While the Group has continued its investment led growth strategy with the acquisitions of Johnston, RightCast and La Belonga, for a total initial consideration of £44.6 million, the Group's Leverage Ratio at 31 December 2022 reduced to 1.77x, which is comfortably within our long term target range.

 

Continued focus on safety translated into further progress on safety reporting and management. The Total Injury Frequency Rate (TIFR) recorded dropped by 13%, while the Serious Harm Incidents Frequency Rate (SHIFR) dropped by over 19% versus prior years; including both employees and contractors. Positive reporting, including near hits and hazard and risk identification increased by more than 70%. One positive engagement initiative, set up in Belgium in 2021, has YoY resulted in an increased engagement of nearly 400% for near hits, hazard, and risk identification and a subsequent reduction in SHIFR by 23%.

 

Governance

 

In April 2022 the Group published its first ESG report which contains extensive detail on its Environmental, Social and Governance policies and initiatives, as well as a detailed roadmap to net-zero. Further updates to that report and the various initiatives that are underway across the Group are provided in the ESG section of these Accounts.

 

Outlook

 

Trading in the early part of FY23 has been encouraging, with overall Group performance for January and February in line with expectations. The Group has made good progress in executing its capital investment pipeline, deploying £12 million of the £30 million equity fundraise completed in February on two businesses across Europe, with work ongoing to deploy the remainder and execute on the pipeline.

 

I am very optimistic about the Group's prospects for 2023 and expect the Group to deliver further improvement over what was a very successful 2022.

 

 

David Barrett

Executive Chairman

25 March 2023

 

CEO's STRATEGIC REPORT

 

2022 represented a real validation of our model as SigmaRoc delivered significant financial and strategic progress, despite a volatile and at times extremely challenging backdrop. Financially, the Group delivered significant earnings growth, to over £100m of underlying EBITDA and 8p of Underlying EPS, whilst retaining a strong balance sheet with leverage below 2.0x. Operationally, we have enhanced safety metrics and customer service levels, together with making sector leading progress on sustainability initiatives across the product range and asset base. Strategically, we have managed the successful integration of the transformational Nordkalk business and completed four further, earnings enhancing, transactions and reserve extensions in key locations. These achievements reinforce our belief that the businesses that form this Group and the more than 2,000 people that work for them, are of exceptional quality. This is particularly true of the operational and sales staff who, across the Group, had to contend with a series of acute challenges ranging from rapid cost inflation, energy availability and supply chain disruption. It is also true of the various support teams, who in a complicated year managed to keep the ship on course to deliver on all priorities we set well before 2022 started.

 

The content of this Annual Report therefore aims to highlight three key aspects of our model. First, that there continues to be significant opportunity to develop the Group, both organically and inorganically, across each of the platforms and that we have evidenced this potential again in a year of significant head winds. Second, that the diversified nature of our geographic footprint, end markets and product base, combined with the ability to implement high impact improvement programmes, has created real resilience in our trading performance. Thirdly, that these characteristics have enabled us to set challenging but attainable mid-term strategic goals, both financial and ESG focussed, which represent significant value creation potential for all our stakeholders. These goals are set out below and the potential of the Group and our confidence in achieving these goals are considered in more detail in the sections that follow.

 

 

Strategic development

 

Following a year of transformational investment in 2021, which included the acquisition of Nordkalk together with B-Mix and the establishment of the Benelux Platform, the Group made further significant strategic development in 2022. In total, the Group deployed c.£44.6m across three acquisitions which brought annualised revenues of c.£24.5m and EBITDA of c.£7.3m. The acquisitions were completed on attractive terms, in line with SigmaRoc's strict financial criteria, which represented an average EBITDA multiple of c.6x. The team expect to realise synergies and productivity gains at each of the acquired businesses which will support increasing returns on the invested capital over time.

 

Together with financial benefits, the Group's investment activities have further enabled the delivery of its long term growth ambitions through the enhancement of the asset base and commercial infrastructure. In aggregate, investment activities in 2022 added c.216 million tonnes of high quality reserves across the Group. In addition, the establishment of a strategic JV with ArcelorMittal provides a framework to accelerate the growth of the Group's lime business across continental Europe.

 

At the end of January 2022, the Group acquired Johnston for an initial cash consideration of £35.5 million and deferred consideration of £8.5 million. Johnston is a specialist quarried materials supplier producing construction aggregates and premium quality building stone, as well as agricultural lime for soil improvement. Its aggregate products are typically used in infrastructure projects, with its unique Cotswolds Ironstone and Bath Stone used in specified high end housing and architectural applications. The business operates five active quarries and three mines and two separate processing sites located across the south-west of England, Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire. Johnston has access to 86 million tonnes of freehold and leasehold reserves and resources giving JQG an average life of mine of over 40 years.

 

For the 12 months to 30 September 2021, Johnston reported revenue of £14.7 million, generating EBITDA of £5.9 million and profit before tax of £3.6 million. The acquisition was funded from the Group's existing resources, including the assumption of approximately £11.0 million in borrowings comprising long term debt and plant hire contracts.

 

In April 2022, the Group acquired RightCast for an initial cash consideration of £2.5 million with a further £0.5 million deferred consideration payable in 12 months subject to certain conditions. RightCast is a precast concrete producer specialising in the production of concrete stair flights and landings.

 

For the 12 months ended 31 October 2021, RightCast reported revenue of £3.1 million, generating EBITDA of £0.6 million and profit after tax of £0.5 million. The acquisition was funded from the Group's existing resources and RightCast has been integrated into the PPG platform. RightCast brought with it a strong pipeline of work, well established team and complimentary product offering to PPG.

 

In September 2022 the Group entered into a strategic JV agreement with ArcelorMittal to create a new net-zero European lime producer. The JV will be located close to Dunkirk's harbour and ArcelorMittal's steelworks, with ArcelorMittal being the main consumer of the lime produced. To reduce CO2 emissions, the lime production process will use heat recovered from the ArcelorMittal steelworks plant and biofuels rather than natural gas. The location of the operations will allow the JV to be part of the Dunkirk CO2 hub. The combination of these CO2 reduction initiatives will enable the JV to offer net-zero lime.

 

Under the terms of the JV agreement, each of SigmaRoc and ArcelorMittal will take a 47.5% ownership stake. In the first phase of roll out, the new JV company will be responsible for the construction of three new lime kilns in Dunkirk. Initial planning has commenced on permitting and kiln specification for these operations, with final permitting approval expected toward the end of 2023 and commissioning in 2025. Long term supply and offtake agreements will be entered into between the JV partners.

 

In order to supply the new lime kilns in Dunkirk, in July 2022 La Belonga was acquired. La Belonga is a limestone quarry located in the north of Spain with 60 million tonnes of reserves and resources and potential for a further 120 million tonnes, subject to permitting. La Belonga is strategic to the Group as it is a large reserve of high quality limestone, possessing high calcium oxide and low sulphur content, which is suitable for use in the steel industry, and is located close to the Gijon port providing export opportunities into the Group's European operations.

 

La Belonga was acquired for an initial consideration of €2.2 million with a further €1.3 million of deferred consideration. For the 12 months ended 31 December 2021, La Belonga reported revenue of €3.5 million, EBITDA of €0.5 million and profit after tax of €0.2 million.

 

Development of the 2 million tonne quarry extension in Jersey, which was consented in 2021, has progressed well, with sales of product from the extended area already underway. In Guernsey, the planning application to develop a greenfield quarry at Chouet Headland was unanimously approved by the Guernsey Development & Planning Authority in October 2022. With current reserves providing a further 7-8 years of production, this approval secures the supply of Ronez value added product streams and the external construction market in Guernsey for the next 20 years.

 

In Poland, a new limestone deposit was opened, with planned reserve extensions expected to add a total of 35 million tonnes to the Group's reserves and resources.

 

In Belgium, quarry extension works are on track at Soignies with construction of the new road around the extension area progressing well, which has enabled excavations of overburden to start.

 

 

Operations and trading

 

Group structure:

 

Following the substantial expansion and development of SigmaRoc in 2021, with the acquisition of Nordkalk, the Board determined that the Group's platform-based model could be enhanced through the overlay of an overarching regional structure. The platform model has proven effective, ensuring the Group remains locally focussed and agile, with the regional overlay supporting the Group's new expanded footprint and providing a strong foundation for further growth and expansion. This new regional structure will provide the basis for divisional reporting going forward.

 

Each region has a Managing Director and Financial Director who are responsible and accountable for overseeing performance, steering development, and driving growth. While these roles and responsibilities are new, the people occupying them are not. They are either MDs and FDs of existing platforms within the region, taking on a larger remit but retaining their prior responsibilities, or they are incumbents in the role (but with a new title) and the organisation beneath them has been reorganised, such is the case with Nordkalk.

 

The new regional structure aligns the Group as follows:

 

Region

MD

FD

Countries

Platforms

North West

Michael Roddy

Michael Crump

UK

Channel Islands

PPG

England

Wales

Channel Islands

West

Emmanuel Maes

Dean Masefield

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Northern France

 

Dimension Stone

Benelux

North East

Paul Gustavsson

Marcel Gestranius

Finland

Sweden

Poland

Norway

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Spain1

 

Quicklime

Nordics

Poland

Baltics

 

1 La Belonga was acquired by Nordkalk and currently reports into the North East region, this will be reviewed as the Group develops.

 

Market dynamics:

 

The Group benefits from broad diversification across products, end markets and geography.

 

Approximately 44% of Group Revenue is derived from industrial mineral markets, which have seen resilient demand, supported by the following structural drivers:

-  Environmental, Agriculture and Chemical (20% of Group Revenue): Continued good structural demand pull through, with additional, ongoing substitution by customers of materials previously sourced from Russia.

-  Pulp, Paper & Board (14% of Group Revenue): Order books continue to replenish at historically high rates, with underlying demand from pulp customers increasing as part of the transition in packaging materials away from plastic and with the Group also benefitting from an increasing switch by customers to our products.

-  Metals & Mining (10% of Group Revenue): Order intake remains stable, despite lower European steel production in the second half of the year, with the Group able to sell product into a range of alternative local industrial markets.

 

The remaining 56% of Group revenues are derived from construction markets, with over half of this from infrastructure applications which have continued to see robust demand:

-  Infrastructure (32% of Group Revenue): Robust demand across the UK and European platforms, underpinned by customer guided volumes into 2023 as well as significant project wins.

-  Residential (25% of Group Revenue): Robust orderbooks in commercial markets and high specification products, including the Greenbloc range, offsetting low exposure to softening UK RMI market (total UK residential exposure is approximately 8% of Group Revenues).

 

The Group's sustainable product offering has been a contributing factor to the substantial growth in the PPG Platform over the past two years, with Greenbloc helping secure tier 1 building contractors as part of the customer base. From 2020 to 2022, the PPG Platform grew revenue by 48% and Underlying EBITDA by 65%.

 

Trading performance:

 

The business overall performed ahead of Board expectations in 2022, which enabled the Group to more than offset c.£5m of profit headwind in Q1 arising from a combination of industrial action and other customer disruption.

 

North West

 

In the Channel Islands phasing of significant construction projects created a modest decline in volumes for the year, however this was offset by operational cost improvements derived from productivity gains resulting from investment in plant & machinery and strategic procurement of raw materials, combined with efficient hedging. This enabled the Channel Islands to meet its targets for the year, growing EBITDA by 5%.

 

PPG continued its strong performance through the year. Demand in the first half was consistent across the platform and cost inflation was effectively passed-on through regular price increases. In the second half, a slight slowing in demand at CCP and Allen was offset by a very busy bespoke projects division at Poundfield and strong trading at RightCast. Poundfield had a record year, increasing revenue by 39% YoY.

 

At Johnston, construction aggregate demand from the Lincolnshire quarries was subdued as large infrastructure projects were delayed but this was offset by strong demand for agricultural lime. Performance post-acquisition was further improved through the integration process, including a review of operating costs and savings from utilisation of Group supply chains.

 

Revenue for Harries was strong throughout the period, but margin performance was impacted in January and February as a result of equipment issues which increased maintenance and plant hire costs. This was recovered by improved margins through a combination of premium aggregate product sales and operating cost efficiencies, which translated into an increase in EBITDA of 25% YoY.

 

West

 

Dimension Stone had another strong year of trading through 2022, with an exceptionally strong order book translating into high volumes. Inflationary input cost pressure was mitigated by regular price increases, and we further benefitted from very good electricity generation from a new solar panel installation. Commercial highlights for the year included the specification of Bluestone for new offices at Euralille in Lille, development around Penn Station New York, modernisation of Leuven railway and city centres of Charleroi and Gembloux.

 

Our Benelux platform performed ahead of expectations. B-Mix had a very strong year with volumes ahead of budget translating into strong EBITDA growth. Cuvelier was in line with expectations and while GduH was behind on volumes for much of the year, strong volumes in November and December combined with a contractual take-or-pay adjustment translated into results ahead of expectation.

 

North East

 

Nordkalk faced particularly challenging conditions in the early part of the year, including:

· The Russian invasion of Ukraine displacing three employees and their families;

· Significant energy cost increases and concern over supply arrangements;

· Union strike at UPM in Finland which persisted for almost 4 months; and

· Unexpected plant shutdown at customer, SSAB, in January.

 

Through active collaboration between SigmaRoc technical teams and the regional teams within Nordkalk, many of the challenges were met head-on. Further savings were found across the Group and Nordkalk's commercial teams were able to manage the inflationary pressure well through a combination of hedging and dynamic pricing. The impact from customer interruptions was successfully mitigated through the implementation of cost saving programmes across the Group combined with catchup demand through the remainder of the year. In response to the Ukraine conflict, Nordkalk staff in Poland were very active in assisting our Ukrainian staff and their families to relocate to safety when possible, with those who had to remain in Ukraine being located near the Polish border. As a result, Nordkalk had a strong 2022 in ways beyond the purely financial.

 

Financial performance  

 

The Group delivered an excellent financial performance for the year, which was ahead of both the Board's and market expectations. Reported revenues were £ 538.0 million, delivering Underlying EBITDA of £101.7 million, with demand and pricing pass through driving significant top line growth which, combined with continued efficiency gains realised across the business, enabled a strong margin performance in what was a challenging backdrop. This performance is a testament to effective local management taking the right decisions to protect their businesses without hesitation, whilst retaining focus on supporting their local markets.

 

From a balance sheet perspective, as at 31 December 2022, gross assets were £906.1 million, underpinned by over 1.6 billion tonnes of reserves and resources, land, plant and machinery in strategic locations. Net assets were £ 469.9 million . At year-end the Group had access to a further £173.0 million in RCF and credit facilities which will support the Group's further evolution. We maintain leverage targets at two times Underlying EBITDA with a significant down trend, giving the Group the ability to reinvest generated cashflows as the Group reduces its gearing. At the year-end our Adjusted Leverage Ratio stood at 1.93 with cash at £68.6 million.

 

ESG, Safety and Innovation

 

ESG:

 

In April 2022 the Group published its first ESG report which contains extensive detail on its Environmental, Social and Governance policies and initiatives, as well as a detailed roadmap to net-zero. The report provides further detail on a large number of initiatives already in place across the Group to manage its energy use and sourcing, as well as accelerate its successful track record in innovation to both meet demanding ESG targets and further enhance competitiveness. In summary of the ESG report, we aim to:

 

· provide the option for 100% of manufactured products to utilise waste/recycled materials by 2025;

· utilise 100% of production materials by 2027;

· be free of fossil fuel use by 2032; and

· achieve net-zero by 2040.

 

We are not aware of any other operator in the lime sector having committed to these targets and no other building materials producer is presently able to offer certified products with ultra-low carbon credentials totally free of cement, across the entire range of its products.

 

More specifically, feasibility studies have been initiated across the Group to further increase green energy sourcing. These include new wind and solar installations and further increases of existing solar capacity on site at Soignies.

 

In West Wales, Harries contributed to a successful "nappy-enhanced" asphalt trial, whereby 2.4km of roadway was surfaced using asphalt that contained recycled nappies. The fibres from the nappies improve binding of bitumen with aggregate, resulting in a more durable road surface which is expected to remain in situ for up to 20 years while also providing reduced road noise.

 

As part of our commitment to employees as well as their families and the communities they love and work in, West Wales held a Family Fun Day with over 200 people attending. This was an opportunity for everyone to come together, have fun and relax as well as raise money for local charities with additional support from other local businesses.

 

Furthering our governance initiatives, Julie Kuenzel was appointed as Company Secretary in September 2022. Julie holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, is a Chartered Accountant and working toward membership with the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. Julie has over 20 years' experience working in a wide range of industries in senior management positions. More recently, Julie has been focussed on providing financial and corporate governance advice to listed companies. Julie replaced Westend Corporate, who remain as the Group's financial accountants. Julie's appointment bolstered the Group's already strong corporate governance function, and she reports to the Board on all compliance related matters.

 

In April 2022, Axelle Henry joined the Board as an independent NED. Ms Henry brings significant financial skill to the Group given her role as CFO of a major investment fund and also adds fresh perspective to the Board with her knowledge of sectors which are more brand and innovation oriented.

 

To support both our businesses and our communities, we are continuing to develop our working relationships with the military and military employment charities and are registered with the Career Transition Partnership. We will help facilitate resettlement and transition from military to civilian life as well as support civilian spouses and partners of serving and ex-Forces personnel on their journey into employment.

 

Across all our platforms, our business model of local business for local communities ensures that we continue to integrate into the areas we work, supporting both other local businesses, projects, and communities .

 

Safety:

 

The Group has continued to progress and improve its safety culture in 2022 by focusing on 3 key areas:

 

1.  Structure & Compliance by ensuring corrective actions are properly closed out and on time;

2.  Proactive Prevention by focusing on each businesses' 3-5 core risks; and

3.  Learn & Improve through thorough investigations and timely communication.

 

We are pleased to report a 13% YoY reduction in incident frequency rate; 19% reduction in serious harm frequency rate and over 70% YoY increase in near hit, hazard and risk reporting, taking into account all those that work on our sites, employee and contractors alike. With the addition of three new businesses during the year the Group has leveraged its established health & safety tools and procedures, including the internally developed safety management system HighVizz which has helped increase reporting, decrease incidents, and improve safety awareness and culture .

 

Innovation:

 

In November 2022 we announced our partnership with Aqualung to construct Europe's first industrial scale carbon capture facility in Scandinavia, with the objective of rolling out across the Group's entire kiln network and capture all kiln process emissions by 2030.

 

The market reaction to Greenbloc has surpassed our expectations. We have invested significantly in our own manufacturing facilities to keep pace with demand, while the PPG platform has also acquired and developed additional UK sites to facilitate the development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon construction products that go beyond concrete blocks.

 

From the start of this year every product currently manufactured by SigmaRoc's PPG platform is now available in a cement-free ultra-low carbon option. 2023 will see up to 50% of all products produced across the PPG platform falling under Greenbloc low carbon alternative ranges.

 

Our strategic collaboration agreement with Marshalls, which was established on the back of our leadership in the market with Greenbloc, accelerated during 2022. We have multiple workstreams focusing on pushing existing technologies to their limits while also developing new manufacturing techniques. Together with Marshalls, we remain committed to improving how concrete is specified within the build environment and reducing its carbon footprint significantly.

 

In the Channel Islands all ready-mix concrete and concrete products are now offered with a low carbon cement blend option, and the ultra-low carbon offering for ready-mix concrete is gathering traction in the market .

 

Post period announcements

 

In February 2023 the Company successfully completed a £30 million fundraise to part fund ten potential near term strategic acquisition opportunities and four organic growth and carbon footprint reduction projects. Collectively, the strategic acquisitions and the organic growth investments are anticipated, should they all complete, to generate, net of proposed divestments, approximately £42 million of revenue, £10 million of EBITDA and profit after tax of £6 million on an annualised basis.

 

In March 2023 the Company announced completion of the following acquisitions, which form part of the near term strategic acquisition opportunities announced in February 2023, for an aggregate consideration of £12 million:

 

(a)  Goijens, a leading supplier of ready-mixed concrete and pumping solutions, located in the north east of Belgium. Goijens operates two concrete plants and concrete recycling facilities, as well as pumping and other services. Its footprint, located in the north east of Belgium on c.10 acres of freehold land, is highly complementary to the Benelux Platform, which is expected to enable commercial and operational synergies, as well as a swift integration into the Group; and

 

(b)  Juuan Dolomitik, a specialist supplier of high quality dolomitic limestone, used in agricultural and environmental sectors to improve regulation of soil pH and water retention. JD's operations are located close to the Group's existing Finnish business and represent a valuable extension into dolomitic limestone, adding approximately 1.5 million tonnes of reserves, equating to roughly 30 years of operating life.

 

Additionally in March 2023, the Company announced that it had been successful in its claim to seek compensation from the Swedish state in respect of land use restrictions. The verdict, pronounced on 14 March 2023, made an award to Nordkalk in compensation for economic loss, of which a sum of c. SEK 188 million (c. £17 million) that is to be adjusted for inflation and interest until payment is made, is receivable by the Group as its share. The verdict is subject to appeal until 4 April 2023 and receipt of funds remains subject to the outcome of any appeal, if lodged.

 

Forward look

 

The Group has started 2023 positively, trading broadly in line with expectations, supporting a cautious level of optimism for the remainder of the year . Whilst the significant reduction in energy prices in the UK and Europe has improved the demand outlook for many of the sectors we supply, we continue to see variable conditions across our end markets, with recovering demand and structural drivers in a number of segments offsetting continued subdued activity in others.

 

Notably, we have seen stronger than expected demand from European steel customers as a result of more benign energy conditions and our infrastructure construction pipeline remains healthy in all jurisdictions. Set against this, residential construction demand in the UK, and to a lesser extent Sweden and Finland, remains softer, although this represents c.10% of Group revenue.

 

We have continued to price dynamically, pass through inflationary cost increases and utilise hedging, and operational execution has remained strong, enabling the Group to deliver further efficiency, improvement and cost saving programmes.

 

The Group's pipeline of organic and acquisition investment opportunities is very robust, with the proceeds of the equity fundraising in February enabling the Group to execute on multiple value accretive projects in 2023 and toward the end of the year the Group will have generated c.£50 million in FCF with headroom to support further capital deployment.

 

The Group has a clear set of strategic priorities which support sustainable organic growth, robust margins, strong cash generation and expanding ROIC. Our broad footprint, product set and end market representation provides numerous avenues through which to accelerate delivery through further investment and a market leadership position in sustainability.

 

I am therefore confident in the Group's ability to deliver another exceptional year of growth and development.

 

 

This report was approved by the Board on 25 March 2023.

 

Max Vermorken

Chief Executive Officer

 

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER'S REPORT

 

I am pleased to report another strong year financially for the Group, where we exceeded expectations despite considerable challenges in the operational and market backdrop. We were able to more than offset these headwinds through a combination of volume outperformance in the less impacted parts of the Group, dynamic pricing, effective hedging, and numerous operational improvement programmes and cost saving initiatives.

 

For the year ending 31 December 2022, the Group generated revenue of £538.0 million (2021: £272.0 million) and Underlying EBITDA of £101.7 million (2021: £49.3 million). Underlying profit before taxation for the Group was £62.7 million (2021: £26.8 million).

 

The statutory loss for the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 before taxation amounts to £24.4 million (2021: loss £26.3 million), which includes £10.2 million of non-underlying expenses primarily pertaining to non-cash share option expense, amortisation of finance costs, and M&A related cash fees.

 

The Board monitors the activities and performance of the Group on a regular basis and uses financial indicators based on budget versus actual to assess the performance of the Group. The indicators set out below will continue to be used by the Board to assess performance over the period to 31 December 2022.

 

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

68,623

69,916

Revenue

537,993

271,986

Underlying EBITDA

101,723

49,262

Capital expenditure

51,008

22,555

 

Cash generated from operations was £87.7 million (2021: £29.5 million) with a net decrease in cash of £4 million (2021 net increase of £42.9 million) after spending £43.3 million on acquisitions net of cash acquired and £40.8 million in net capital expenditure.

 

Revenue and Underlying EBITDA exceeded expectations and management forecasts.

 

Capital expenditure relates to purchases of land & minerals, new plant & machinery, and improvements to existing infrastructure across the Group.

 

PPA

 

BDO UK LLP undertook the PPA exercise required under IFRS 3 to allocate a fair value to the acquired assets of B-Mix and Nordkalk.

 

The PPA process resulted in a reduction of goodwill recorded on the Statement of Financial Position of the Group for Nordkalk from £268.8 million to £35 million. The reduction was to transfer the value of goodwill to tangible assets for plant and equipment, land and buildings, land and mineral reserves, intangible assets and deferred tax assets.

 

Non-underlying items

 

The Company's loss after taxation for 2022 amounts to £24.4 million, of which £10.2 million relates to non-underlying items, while the Group's non-underlying items totalled £20.0 million for the year, of which £13.1 million, representing over 65%, are non-cash and non-tax deductible. These items relate to nine categories:

 

1.  £6.7 million amortisation of acquired assets and adjustments to acquired assets, which has increased by £5.0 million resulting from the Nordkalk PPA adjustment.

 

2.  £4.7 million in share-based payments relating to grants of options, including £0.5 million pertaining to option revaluations resulting from changes to exercise dates.

 

 

3.  £3.5 million in exclusivity, introducer, advisor, consulting, legal fees, accounting fees, insurance and other direct costs relating to acquisitions. During the year the Group acquired Johnston, RightCast, La Belonga and entered into the ArcelorMittal joint venture. The Group also undertook extensive due diligence on over 20 other potential transactions, some of which were completed, and others which are expected to complete, post year-end.

 

 

4.  £1.8 million legal and restructuring expenses relating to the reorganisation and integration of recently acquired subsidiaries, including costs associated with discontinuing sites and operations, transitional salary costs, redundancies, severance and recruitment fees, and costs associated with financial reporting and system migrations.

 

 

5.  £1.1 million on amortisation of finance costs arising from the syndicated 5-year debt facilities established in July 2021.

 

 

6.  £0.9 million in stamp duty and other taxes, primarily relating to taxes paid in relation to the acquisition of 11 hectares of land in Belgium.

 

 

7.  £0.5 million on expenses relating to innovation and sustainable practices, including continued development of Greenbloc, alternative carbon-free cement solutions, Aqualung carbon capture technology and utilisation of alternative fuels.

 

 

8.  £0.4 million on unwinding of discounts on deferred consideration payments for Harries.

 

 

9.  £0.4 million in other exceptional costs which primarily relate to non-cash balance sheet adjustments.

 

Interest and tax

 

Net finance costs in the year totalled £10.4 million (2021: £7.0 million) including associated interest on bank finance facilities, as well as interest on finance leases (including IFRS 16 adjustments) and hire purchase agreements.

 

A tax charge of £ 9.1 million (2021: £4.7 million) was recognised in the year, resulting in a tax charge on profitability generated from mineral extraction in the Channel Islands and profits generated through the Group's UK, Belgium and Nordic based operations.


Earnings per share

 

Basic EPS for the year was 4.89 pence (2021: loss of 1.89 pence) and Underlying basic EPS (adjusted for the non-underlying items mentioned above) for the year totalled 8.03 pence (2021: 5.37 pence).

 

Statement of financial position

 

Net assets at 31 December 2022 were £469.9 million (2021: £411.2 million). Net assets are underpinned by mineral resources, land and buildings and plant and machinery assets of the Group.

 

Cash flow

 

Cash generated by operations was £87.7 million (2021: £29.5 million). The Group spent £43.3 million on acquisitions net of cash acquired, £51.0 million on capital projects, raised £9.2 million through the disposal of surplus land holdings, and drew net borrowings of £5.8 million. The net result was a cash outflow for the year of £4 million.

 

Net debt

 

Net debt at 31 December 2022 was £193.8 million (2021: £164.0 million), and was refinanced on 15 July 2021.

 

Bank facilities

 

In July 2021 the Company entered a new Syndicated Senior Credit Facility of up to £405 million (the 'Debt Facilities') led by Santander UK and including several major UK and European banks. The Debt Facilities, which comprises a £205 million committed term facility, £100 million revolving credit facility and a further £100 million accordion option, provides the Group with further capacity and flexibility to support its ongoing buy-and-build strategy, as well as reducing like-for-like borrowing costs. 

 

The Group's   Debt Facilities have a maturity date of 15 July 2026 and are subject to a variable interest rate based on SONIA/EURIBOR plus a margin depending on Underlying EBITDA. As   at   31 December 2022, total undrawn facilities available to the Group via the   new   Debt Facilities amounted to approximately £ 173 million.

 

The Group's   Debt Facilities are subject to covenants which are tested monthly and certified quarterly. These covenants are:

· Group interest cover ratio set at a minimum of 4   times   EBITDA;  and

· A maximum adjusted leverage ratio, which is the ratio of total net debt, including further borrowings such as deferred consideration, to adjusted EBITDA, of 3.25x in 2022. As at 31 December 2022, the Group comfortably complied with its bank facility covenants.

 

Capital Allocation

 

We prioritise the maintenance of a strong balance   sheet and deploy our capital responsibly, allowing us   to commit significant organic investment to our   business whilst continuing to pursue acquisitions to   accelerate our strategic development.   This conservative approach to financial management   will enable us to continue pursuing capital growth for   our shareholders.  

 

Dividends

 

Subject to availability of distributable reserves, dividends will be paid to shareholders when the Directors believe it is appropriate and prudent to do so. The focus of the Group at this stage of its development will be on delivering capital growth for shareholders. The Directors therefore do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year (31 December 2021: nil).

 

Post Balance Sheet event

 

Post 2022 close we have conducted a series of activities worthy of mention in this Annual Report .

 

This report was approved by the Board on 25 March 2023 and signed on its behalf.

 

 

Garth Palmer

Chief Financial Officer

 

ESG REPORT

 

SigmaRoc has and will always be committed to the principles of ESG. ESG encompasses a company's Environmental, Social and Governance aspects, however there is no global definition with each company and sector potentially having different focus priorities.

 

Following on from our 2021 annual report and standalone annual 2021 ESG Report, we continue to commit to reporting and disclosure of ESG and sustainability matters through frameworks such as TCFD and SASB. During 2022, we have extended our pledge by committing to Science Base Target Initiatives (SBTi).

 

 

1.1.  Frameworks

 

TCFD & SASB

 

The Group's ESG report has been guided using the principles of TCFD and SASB. Whilst TCFD recommendations serve as a global foundation for effective climate-related disclosures, in terms of disclosure, the Group has adopted, where possible, the SASB Construction Materials disclosure topics and accounting metrics.

 

SASB standards represent a clear solution to TCFD implementation having rigorously developed TCFD-aligned reporting tools to promote disclosures in a way that is both cost-effective and useful for all stakeholders.

 

As of August 2022, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) of the IFRS Foundation assumed responsibility for the SASB Standards. The ISSB has committed to build on the industry-based SASB Standards and leverage SASB's industry-based approach to standards development and encourages preparers and investors to continue to provide full support for and to use the SASB Standards until IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards replace SASB Standards.

 

ISSB in 2022 published exposure drafts consolidating content from the TCFD, CDSB, SASB, Integrated Reporting, and WEF IBC's stakeholder capitalism metrics into a coherent whole with the intention to become the global standard-setter for sustainability disclosures for the financial markets.

 

The TCFD standards set out recommended disclosures structured under four core elements of how companies operate:

 

· Governance - The organisation's governance around climate-related risks and opportunities;

· Strategy - The actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities for an organisation's businesses, strategy, and financial planning;

· Risk Management - The processes used by the organisation to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks; and

· Metrics and Targets - The metrics and targets used to assess and manage relevant climate-related risks and opportunities.

 

SBTi

Science-based targets provide a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and future-proof business growth. They show organisations how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

 

Through the 2015 Paris Agreement, world governments committed to curbing global temperature rise to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that global warming must not exceed 1.5°C to avoid the impacts of climate change. To achieve this, global GHG emissions must halve by 2030 - and drop to net-zero by 2050.

 

Targets are considered 'science-based' if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

 

As we continue our commitment to net zero, SBTi is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.

 

There are 5 stages of SBTi:

 

1.  Commit: Register online and submit a letter to commit to setting a science-based target, or to have existing targets independently verified.

 

2.  Develop a target : Develop target(s) in line with SBTi science-based criteria.

 

 

3.  Submit target for validation: Review of targets by SBTi team of technical experts to validate it against our science-based criteria.

 

 

4.  Announce target and inform stakeholders: SBTi will publish targets on their Companies Taking Action Page.

 

 

5.  Disclose progress: Disclose company's emissions annually and monitor progress on reaching target.

 

 

 

1.2.  ESG Road Map and Focus Areas

 

As a business our overall aim is to ensure sustainable returns to our shareholders. As a Group we are committed to ensuring this can be done in a manner where we minimise risks and seize opportunities so that our business continues to be strong in the years to come.

 

Our focus on returns to shareholders is through our 4i principles, all of which are underpinned by ESG.

 

Shareholder returns are an output of our inputs, which are our business model and ESG principles.

 

1.2.1.  Road Map to Net Zero

 

ESG

Subject

Target

Date

Progress to date

Environment

Carbon

All concrete products available in low carbon and ultra-low carbon.

2025

50% of concrete products available in low carbon and ultra-low carbon.

Carbon capture storage and utilisation trial plant operational.

2025

First module ordered and due for commissioning in April 2023.

Alternative fuels used in mobile equipment.

2030

Trials with alternative fuels for fleet and electronic fleet and mobile equipment.

Alternative fuels used in fixed equipment (e.g. lime and asphalt).

2032

Upgrade of fuel handling systems and burners underway in Nordkalk for the use of alternative fuels.

All kilns are carbon neutral.

2038

Aqualung agreement signed that will look to have all kilns carbon neutral by 2030.

Net-zero.

2040


Energy intensity and efficiency

2.5% reduction in energy intensity.

2030


100% third party energy sourced from renewable means.

2030

Site and Virtual PPA under review across each business with some businesses already expanding their renewable energy sources.

Resource utilisation and circular economy

100% of all manufactured products can utilise waste / recycled materials [1] .

2025

Products such as asphalt, concrete, and concrete products are already using, where specification allows, waste / recycled materials such as nappies, RAP, PFA, GGBS and recycled aggregates.

The production of quicklime uses waste materials as fuel in the process of making quicklime.

100% utilisation of all production materials.

2027

Set up of Baltic Aggregates enables the aggregates not suitable for industrial mineral application to be processed and supplied to construction markets.

 

1.2.2.  Environment

Pillar

Key Focus Area

Targets

How Did we do

Focus for 2023

Environment

Sustainable use of reserves and resources.

Achieve Carbon net-zero road map targets.

 

Reduction in energy intensity and increase in energy efficiency.

 

Maximisation of resource utilisation and circular economy.

Published first ESG report which contains extensive detail on its Environmental, Social and Governance policies and initiatives, as well as a detailed roadmap to net-zero.

 

Energy surveys commissioned across platforms that have found multiple opportunities and savings.

 

Appointment of Kinect Energy to give dedicated focus on energy procurement and hedging.

 

Increase green energy sourcing initiatives including new wind and solar installations and further increases of existing solar capacity on site at Soignies.

 

Successful "nappy-enhanced" asphalt trial using asphalt that contained recycled nappies.

 

Partnership with Aqualung, to construct Europe's first industrial scale carbon capture facility in Scandinavia.

 

PPG platform acquired and developed additional UK sites to facilitate the development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon products.

 

Our strategic collaboration with Marshalls focusing on pushing existing technologies while also developing new manufacturing techniques.

 

Continue to focus and accelerate where possible our net-zero road map targets.

 

Commissioning of first carbon capture aqualung module.

 

Continue energy and fuel optimisation to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

 

Submission and validation of SBTi data.

 

Environment

Responsible use key resources including raw material, mineral and water.

Environment

Optimise energy use and minimise impact of our operations on the environment.

Environment

Contribute to sustainable construction and address environmental aspects either through product production or use.

 

1.2.3.  Social

Pillar

Key Focus Area

Targets

How Did we do

Focus for 2023

Social

Ensure people leave work in the same or better condition than when they arrived.

Total injury frequency rate and harm injury frequency rate reduction year on year.

 

Increase workforce engagement and retention.

 

Increase board diversity.

 

13% year-on-year reduction in incident frequency rate; 19% reduction in serious harm frequency rate and over 70% year-on-year increase in near hit, hazard, and risk reporting. This data is not just limited to employees, but included all those that work on our sites including contractors.

 

Commitment to employees as well as their families and the communities through Family Fun Day with over 200 people attending.

 

Climate and supervisor surveys that has allowed each business to focus on key areas identified by our employees.

 

Increased female board diversity to 25% with regards to NEDs through the appointment of Axelle Henry.

 

Continued development of our working relationships with the military and military employment charities.

 

Engagement of apprenticeship schemes as well as school and university placements to offer careers to those both at the start of their careers or those looking for change or coming back to work later in life.

 

Continual roll out of supervisor alignment programme for Health & Safety.

 

Continued focus on 3 core Health & Safety areas: Structure & Compliance; Proactive Prevention; and Learn & Improve.

 

Alignment of all business to group core risks to continue to drive SIF reduction.

 

Continue to promote Board diversity in addition to current diversity of 25% of female NEDs.

 

Continue to work with government agencies, education establishments and communities to offer long term employment opportunities.

 

Social

Support the physical and mental health of our employees and their families.

Social

Attract, train, retain, and engage our workforce.

Social

Be a good neighbour; Source local, buy local, sell local, invest local.


1.2.4.  Governance

Governance

Promote QCA and Corporate Governance Codes

Continue to implement, and transparently disclose, compliance and matters relating to ESG.

 

Maintain ongoing compliance in a dynamic environment across multiple jurisdictions.

 

 

 

Appointment of Axelle Henry as an independent NED.

 

Appointment of  Company Secretary to bolster the Group's already strong corporate governance function, reporting to the Board on all compliance related matters.

 

Alignment of cyber security policy as well as other overarching policies across the Group.

 

Enhancement of governance education within the Group through the use of Formity training and compliance system.

 

 

Review opportunity for improvement of Investor relations function within the Group.

 

Interaction with institutional investors' ESG & Stewardship analysts to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.

 

Be a leading business of compliance that meets the expectations of our shareholders and potential investors in a timely fashion.

 

 

Governance

Ensure proactive Board oversight and independence of committees

Governance

Focus on Risk Management and mitigation, including cyber

Governance

Ensure transparency on reporting and Tax

 

 

1.3.  Disclosure

 

TCFD pillar

Recommended disclosure

SigmaRoc summary

Governance

· Board's oversight of climate-related risks and opportunities

· management's role in assessing and managing climate related risks and opportunities

The Board has the highest level of responsibility for climate-related issues and is supported by various committees including the Audit Committee, which is responsible for monitoring ESG performance.

In 2021, the Board agreed a road map to developing ESG through TCFD, SASB and development of ESG targets with 2022 being the first year of reporting to SASB and where data limited, putting process in place to capture for the following year.

 

Strategy

· climate-related risks and opportunities identification

· climate-related risks and opportunities impacts

· resilience of the organisation's strategy

ESG is core in all of our key decision-making.

Both the Board and management teams review where climate-related risks and opportunities might occur, as well as their significance and connection to other risks.

This information allows us to challenge our strategy to ensure it is as resilient as possible.

Risk Management

· identifying and assessing climate-related risks

· managing climate-related risks

· integration into overall risk management

Climate-related risks and opportunities are identified and managed both locally and at Group level with our CTO coordinating all aspects.

The identification, assessment and effective management of climate-related risks and opportunities are actively discussed during Board and management meetings.

Metrics and Targets

· climate-related metrics

· Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. 

· climate-related targets

 

To ensure meaningful and appropriate metrics and targets for our stakeholders, we adopted SASB recommended disclosures.

We also comply with SECR, which is independently produced, and voluntarily expand the remit to include all our operations, not just the UK.

As a further commitment in 2022 we committed to SBTi and will use the 2022 data to submit and independently validate targets.

 

SASB provides industry-specific standards for disclosing performance on sustainability topics including, but not limited to, climate in a comparable manner that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on financial performance of companies in each industry. They will be used when assessing the relevant disclosures under the Metrics and Targets Pillar of the TCFD and are among the most frequently cited tools in the TCFD's Implementation Annex.

 

 

SASB Topic

Accounting Metric

Category

Unit of Measure

Code

2022 Result

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gross global Scope 1 emissions, percentage covered under emissions-limiting regulations

Quantitative

Metric tons (t) CO -e, Percentage (%)

EM-CM-110a.1

665,937 tCo2e

 

90% covered by EUETS

 

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Discussion of long-term and short-term strategy or plan to manage Scope 1 emissions, emissions reduction targets, and an analysis of performance against those targets

Discussion and Analysis

n/a

EM-CM-110a.2


Air Quality

Air emissions such as:

Quantitative

Metric tons (t)

EM-CM-120a.1


(1) Nox,

699.10

(2) Sox,

1544.19

Energy Management

(1) Total energy consumed,

Quantitative

Gigajoules (GJ) Percentage (%)

EM-CM-130a.1

4,413,519 GJ of energy

 

(2) percentage grid electricity,

16% from grid

(3) percentage alternative,

21% alternative energy including Guarantee of origin for alternative energy.

 

(4) percentage renewable

2% renewable energy including guarantee of origin of renewable energy and solar PV

Water Management

Total fresh water withdrawn,

Quantitative

Thousand cubic meters (m.) Percentage (%)

EM-CM-140a.1

312,878m3 of water withdrawn

 

14% of process water is drawn from fresh water supplies

Waste Management

Amount of waste generated

Quantitative

Metric tons (t)

EM-CM-150a.1

4,496,901t

 

This is predominantly related to overburden removal at quarries. These materials are often stored or used for restoration purposes including the recultivation of indigenous soils for remediation. The creation of new business is also looking to use surplus material into other business streams and therefore reprocess historical and future material once deemed waste.

Biodiversity Impacts

Description of environmental management policies and practices for active sites

Discussion and Analysis

n/a

EM-CM-160a.1

 

 

Biodiversity Impacts

Terrestrial acreage disturbed; percentage of impacted area restored

Quantitative

Acres (ac) Percentage (%)

EM-CM-160a.2

3,737 acres of land is disturbed.

 

16% of land was restored

Workforce Health & Safety

Total recordable incident rate (TRIR)

Quantitative

Rate

EM-CM-320a.1

Data has historically been collected as an amalgamation for Direct Employee, Contract employee and external contractors as it is believed that we are responsible for all those on our site regardless of employment status.

 

Workforce Health & Safety

Number of reported cases of silicosis

Quantitative

Number

EM-CM-320a.2

None

 

Product Innovation

Total addressable market and share of market for products that reduce energy, water, and/or material impacts during usage and/or production

Quantitative

Reporting currency Percentage (%)

EM-CM-410a.2

Market share is not a straightforward number to capture given all the industries and end markets we operate in, however in the Greenbloc and Sustainability section on we clearly show how construction material product innovation is being driven.

 

Pricing Integrity and Transparency

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with cartel activities, price fixing, and anti-trust activities

Quantitative

Reporting currency

EM-CM-520a.1

Zero

 

 

 

1.1 Group Environmental Report

 

1.1.1.  Dealing with Carbon Dioxide

 

To deal with CO2, it is crucial to understand how CO2 is governed and how it is produced.

 

European Union Emissions Trading System (EUETS)

The EUETS regulates greenhouse gas emissions of energy and energy-intensive industries as well as inner-European aviation. The EUETS puts a cap on the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by business and creates a market and price for carbon allowances. It covers 45% of EU emissions, including energy intensive sectors and approximately 12,000 installations.

 

The EUETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle. A 'cap', or limit, is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by factories, power plants and other installations in the system within the cap, and companies receive or buy emission allowances which they can consume, or trade as needed.

 

An allowance gives the right to emit a tonne of CO2, and any allowance surplus to requirement can be accumulated and used to offset future emissions or traded. The current surpluses were inherited from previous phases of the scheme where emissions were consistently below the system's cap. As such the value of these allowances was low and were traded at less than €10/tonne.

 

The directive concerning Phase IV (2021-2030) of the ETS entered into force on 8 April 2018. However, secondary legislation and guidance documents defining the legislative background of the Phase IV Trading Period are still ongoing. The new benchmark values (the value at which the free allowance is set) is below the actual emissions of the covered industries, and this deficit, along with market measures such as a stability reserve held by the EU and the faster reduction in year-on-year allowances has driven traded prices up to current values of €80-€100/tonne.

 

Lime Industry and CO2

For lime there are sources of CO2 along the production process, however there are two primary sources that make up the majority of CO2 emissions: fuel and process emissions from the calcination part of the process.

 

The calcination process is simply the formula of deriving CaO from CaCO3 using heat.

 

The two main sources of CO2 from the calcination part of the process are as follows: Combustion CO2 (~25% to 35%) is produced from the burning of fossil fuels, while process CO2 (~65% to 75%) results from the actual calcination of limestone.

 

All the CO2 sources have different mitigation solutions.

 

Power and energy CO2 can be reduced through energy efficiency, renewable electricity, fuel efficiency and renewable / alternative fuels. We are actively working on renewable energy solutions and Power Purchase Agreements.

 

Combustion CO2 can be reduced by energy efficiency and fuel selection, as well as by carbon capture utilisation or sequestration (CCUS). We are in the process of moving away from fossil fuels and are due to commission our first module of the CCUS in April 2023.

 

Process CO2 can only be addressed by CCUS, with our first module due to be commissioned in April 2023.

 

 

Carbon capture utilisation or sequestration

 

The emissions from lime kilns are well suited to technologies such as CCUS as they have a higher CO2 content than most post-combustion gases and contain fewer contaminants due to using only limestone as feedstock and, due to product requirements, more stringent fuel quality requirements and typically lower gas filtration temperatures.

 

Post-combustion capture (PCC) systems constitute a technically and economically viable solution to reduce emissions in a variety of sectors. Retrofitting existing plants with post-combustion capture units may be the only effective and economically viable way to reduce emissions at the stack, without affecting the process upstream. The availability of a range of commercially ready technologies suitable for different types of CO2 point sources is crucial for the wide deployment of CCUS systems. Given the wide ranges of plant sizes and flue gas specifications relevant to different emitting sources, it is unlikely that a single technology could fit best in all cases. Therefore, for effective process design, it is convenient to consider multiple technologies and select the most efficient and economically viable option to serve the purpose.

 

In addition to the membrane technology chosen by SigmaRoc, there are a few other options, each with their own opportunities and risks:

 

· Amine scrubbing is acknowledged as the most mature CCUS solution. Absorption-based processes for the separation of CO2 from flue gases have been widely researched, and their effectiveness has been proven through testing on a variety of scales, from laboratory to commercial. For lime, this solution is both costly and requires a substantial footprint with significant energy consumption and issues with disposal of waste residues.

 

· Cryogenic capture and separation is a more recent development offered by industrial gas companies as an extension of their in-house process. For Lime, this solution is both costly and requires a substantial footprint with significant energy consumption.

 

 

SigmaRoc believes that membrane technology is optimally suited to our operations, in summary, due to the proven technology, small footprint, low capital and operating costs, and high efficiencies.

 

Membrane-based processes, on the one hand, are characterised by relatively simple process schemes (e.g., no flowing liquid phase, fewer auxiliary streams and fewer pieces of equipment), which make them cost-competitive at small scales. On the other hand, components like membrane modules are generally limited in their maximum size and benefit less from economies of scale, but do offer a modularity that allows for smaller investments over time to follow market effects.

 

The choice to pursue membrane technology in our lime production process was based upon several criteria - capital requirement, footprint, cost of operation, complexity of operation and overall environmental impact.

 

Membrane technology is, as mentioned previously, limited in scale and suitable for modularity, allowing smaller capital investment to track, as an example, allowances in EUETS. The modules are small (within a sea container) and would require, in our largest plant, four modules to cover process emissions. There are relatively few moving parts, no hazardous liquids or residues and, due to efficient kiln processes where we have little remaining waste heat which can be used in amine technologies, lower energy penalty to operate (typically less than 50% of competitive technologies). In addition, when the produced CO2 is utilised in other processes, specific purity requirements could be met by the addition of another stage of separation within the existing modules.

 

 

1.1.2.  Streamlined Energy and Carbon Report (SECR)

 

Energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions

 

Current UK based annual energy usage and associated annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reported pursuant to the 2018 Regulations.

 

Organisational boundary

 

Energy use and associated GHG emissions are reported across the Group as defined by the operational control approach. This includes operations in the UK and Channel Islands (North West), Belgium (West) and Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Turkey & Spain (North East). This exceeds the minimum mandatory requirements set out in the 2018 Regulations for 'large unquoted companies', which only requires reporting of UK based energy use and emissions.

 

Acquisitions during 2022 include Johnston Quarry Group in January 2022 which forms the England Platform and RightCast which joined the UK based PPG Platform in April 2022. Spanish based La Belonga joined the North East region in July 2022.

 

Reporting period

 

The annual reporting period is 1 January to 31 December each year and the energy and carbon emissions are aligned to this period. The energy and emissions for the newly acquired entities have been included from their respective acquisition dates. Reported emissions for Nordkalk in 2021 have been revised to present a full 12 months, thereby providing a more accurate like for like comparison with 2022 emissions.

 

Quantification and reporting methodology

 

The 2019 UK Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines and the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition) were followed. Emissions calculations were based on emission factors published in the 2022 UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting, Statistics Finland Fuel Classification 2022, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Emission Factors 2022 and the latest available factors from the Association of Issuing Bodies (2021), Jersey Electricity (2020) and Guernsey Electricity (2020). The report has been reviewed independently by Briar Consulting Engineers Limited.

 

Electricity and gas consumption were based on invoice records with some pro-rata and benchmark estimations carried out to complete missing data. Transport usage was calculated from a combination of mileage and fuel records where possible. Transport is not necessarily reported separately outside the UK and Channel Islands as it is included within onsite fuel usage. Gross calorific values were used except for mileage energy calculations as per Government GHG Conversion Factors.

 

The associated emissions are divided into mandatory and voluntary emissions according to the 2018 Regulations. For large unquoted organisations, the 2018 Regulations define mandatory emissions as those originating in the UK coming from purchased electricity, gas combustion and purchased fuel for transport (including mileage expense claims). Reporting energy and emission sources outside of these sources is considered voluntary and reported separately.

 

The emissions are further divided into their relevant scopes as per the GHG Protocol. The scopes are defined as:

· Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions that occur from sources owned or controlled by the organisation.

· Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from the generation of acquired and consumed electricity, steam, heating or cooling.

· Scope 3: Other indirect GHG emissions that occur as a consequence of the organisation's activities but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the organisation.

· Outside of scopes: Biogenic CO2 emissions that scope 1 impact are determined to be 'net zero', since the fuel source itself absorbs an equivalent amount of CO2 during the growth phase as the amount of CO2 released through combustion. Therefore, the direct CO2 emissions are reported separately.

 

Breakdown of energy consumption used to calculate emissions (kWh):

Energy type

2021

2022

Mandatory energy:

UK

Group Total1

UK

Group Total1

Gas

453,856

302,329,485

362,199

208,190,947

Purchased electricity

5,113,311

189,655,953

7,024,295

192,100,497

Transport fuel & site fuel

52,777,809

396,547,065

55,806,376

434,579,215

Total energy (mandatory)

58,344,976

888,532,503

63,192,870

834,870,659

Voluntary energy:

 

 



Bioenergy

-

22,177,534

-

32,094,230

Coal

-

428,002,960

-

387,013,242

Generated electricity2

-

1,906,467

-

4,499,105

Total energy (voluntary)

-

452,086,961

-

423,606,577

Total energy (mandatory & voluntary)

58,344,976

1,340,619,464

63,192,870

1,258,477,236

1 The Group total includes emissions from the UK, Channel Islands, Belgium, and Nordkalk (Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and Turkey, with Spain from August 2022 only).

2 Electricity generated by solar photovoltaic panels. Reported energy includes any exported energy to the grid.

 

Breakdown of emissions associated with the reported energy use (tCO e)

Emission source

2021

2022

Mandatory emissions:

UK

Group Total3

UK

Group Total3

Scope 1





Gas

83

49,091

66

32,501

Company owned vehicles & site fuel

13,035

103,962

13,859

113,712

Scope 2





Purchased electricity (location-based)

1,086

43,200

1,358

42,771

Scope 3





Category 6: Business travel (grey fleet only)

77

103

88

311

Total gross emissions (mandatory)

14,281

196,356

15,371

189,295

Voluntary emissions:





Scope 1





Bioenergy (CH & N O)

-

1.4

-

2.0

Coal

-

140,333

-

131,205

Process related emissions

-

413,896

-

388,517

Total gross emissions (voluntary)

-

554,230

-

519,724

Total gross emissions (mandatory & voluntary)

14,281

750,586

15,371

709,020

Outside of scopes (CO2 only)





Bioenergy

-

7,586


11,013

Petrol/diesel biofuel content

227

251

223

239

Intensity ratio: tCO2e per million-pound turnover:

Mandatory emissions only

193.0

423.2

142.3

351.9

Mandatory & voluntary emissions

193.0

1,617.6

142.3

1,317.9

3 The Group total includes emissions from the UK, Channel Islands, Belgium, and Nordkalk (Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and Turkey, with Spain from August 2022 only).

 

 

Breakdown of emissions across the Group by region for 2022 only (tCO2e)4

Emission source

2022


North West

West

North East

Total

Scope 1





Bioenergy (CH & N O)

-

-

2

2.0

Coal

-

-

131,205

131,205

Gas

66

108

32,328

32,501

Company owned vehicles & site fuel

18,431

6,180

89,101

113,712

Process related emissions

-

-

388,517

388,517

Scope 2





Purchased electricity (location-based)

1,473

1,715

39,583

42,771

Scope 3





Category 6: Business travel (grey fleet only)

95

-

216

311

Total gross emissions

20,065

8,003

680,952

709,020

Outside of scopes





Bioenergy (CO2)

-

-

11,013

11,013

Petrol/diesel biofuel content

239

-

-

239

Intensity ratio





tCO2e per million-pound turnover

144.2

91.6

2,186.2

1,317.9

4 The North West includes the UK and Channel Islands; the West region includes Belgium; the North East region includes Nordkalk.

 

Intensity Ratio

 

The intensity ratio is total gross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e per total million-pound (£m) turnover. This is calculated separately for 'mandatory' emissions and 'mandatory & voluntary' emissions for the UK and regionally for the North West, West and North East SigmaRoc regions. This financial metric is considered the most relevant to the Company's wide-ranging activities and allows a comparison of performance across other organisations and sectors.

 

Energy efficiency action during current financial year

 

Emissions for Nordkalk (the North East region) have been reported for a full 12 months in 2021 (despite joining SigmaRoc in September 2021) and 2022 to provide comparable annual emissions for the Group. Consequently, the reported emissions reveal that Group wide relative and absolute emissions have reduced in 2022 despite the acquisitions of Johnston Quarry Group, RightCast and La Belonga.

 

Fuel consumption emissions in the North East region have reduced with a transition away from coal (reduced by 9,128 tCO2e) and coke gas (reduced by 4,648 tCO2e) to alternative and biofuel sources, such as recycled fuel oil (increased by 6,459 tCO2e) and biofuel in Finland and Sweden rotary kilns.

 

Gross UK emissions have increased by 1,090 tCO2e in 2022, largely due to the acquisitions of Johnston Quarry Group (1,816 tCO2e) in 2022, which has countered emission reductions elsewhere in UK operations. Nevertheless, operational efficiencies at the Wales Platform quarries of Harries have resulted in energy efficiency improvements. In Blaencilgoed Quarry, usage of DERV has reduced by 0.14 litres per tonne of aggregate production when compared to 2021 data. At the same quarry, power to a small submersible water pump has been converted from a diesel generator onto mains electricity, which has a lower carbon intensity.

 

At the Harries Bolton Hill Quarry, operational efficiencies have resulted in DERV usage reducing by 0.3 litres per tonne in mobile plant aggregate production, while at the main fixed crushing plant, electricity consumption has reduced by 1.5 kWh per tonne in aggregate production compared to 2021 data. Furthermore, a fabricated steel structure has been constructed at Alltgoch Quarry over the cold feed bins at the asphalt plant as part of a development to keep the aggregate and dust drier and save energy costs.

 

The Ronez operations are trialling low temperature asphalt to reduce use of gas oil and have been improving metering and monitoring of energy usage to identify further opportunities in 2023. At Poundfield Products, work has begun to replace the diesel-powered forklift truck fleet with electric powered models, while also investigating the feasibility of installing solar panels at the main manufacturing sites.

 

1.1.3.  Water management and Biodiversity

 

SigmaRoc  understands the pressing need for businesses to preserve the environment they operate in, safeguarding our shared home for current and future generations.

 

SigmaRoc is dedicated to limiting and mitigating the impact of its activities on the environment and focusing on growing sustainably. To do so, we have implemented several polices including Biodiversity and Environment & Water.

 

Water management

 

Our operations minimise the amount of fresh water extracted, with 86% of our water being recycled and reused. In several sites, excess water is routed to local water supply companies for treatment and then use in local communities. Several of our quarries have extensive amounts of naturally collected water which, subject to agreement with local authorities, can be used as alternative water sources.

 

Biodiversity

 

Despite the Group operating over a large area of approximately 4,000 acres, this year saw around 16% restored according to agreed programs. Even in our working environments, we take a proactive approach to biodiversity and our sites have created working ecosystems. This includes breeding programs and the re-introduction of wildlife such as the Red Bill Chough, not seen for over 100 years, nesting of peregrine falcons, as well as other flora and fauna. Operational considerations not only seek to minimise impact, but also actively enhance biodiversity in surrounding areas.

 

Some sites are close to Sites of Specific Scientific Interest where our working relationships with local groups and national agencies have helped ensure they thrive. Where there is risk of impact, the valuable species are moved to other suitable or created areas.

 

The businesses' environmental aspects are guided by their individual operating policies, ensuring that local requirements, as well as wider requirements, are met.

 

The operating policies list the guiding principles of the management system and provide a framework for setting quality, environmental and H&S goals supporting strategy and aiming for continuous improvements being implemented within all businesses.

 

Before commencing operation of a site, the potential environmental and social impacts are assessed through an Environmental Impact Assessment process, after which an application for an environmental permit is typically made.

 

During the operating phase of the sites, environmental management is guided by environmental permits, which set regulatory requirements for the operation and closure, and by the environmental management system of the Company including ISO14001.

 

Active sites have restoration and water management plans which are often set as part of the permitting process and are updated as required. The environmental management of the sites covers matters such as ecological and biodiversity impacts, waste generation, noise impacts, emissions to air, discharges to water, natural resource consumption, and hazardous chemical usage.

 

The Group is committed to minimising its impact on the natural environment where it operates. We integrate biodiversity management into all steps of planning, production and closure of sites whilst maintaining a hierarchy of mitigation (avoid, minimize, restore, and finally offset).

 

1.2.  Group Health and Safety Report

 

2022 once again saw continued focus and commitment to health & safety across a larger and more diverse Group. Importantly, the Group has seen a further 13% reduction in the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIFR) and 8% reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR). Strong focus on near hits and hazard & risk elimination resulted in an increase in positive and lead indicating reporting by more than 70%. It should be clearly noted that when reporting we cover all those that work on our site regardless of employment status and as such this includes employees, agency staff, consultants, and contractors.

 

Operating in numerous countries across the UK and Europe, we continue to ensure compliance with local regulation, which is managed at a local level, whilst at the same time integrating these businesses to align with best practice Group H&S standards.

 

Principles

The Group continues to drive its overarching H&S standards which we believe supported the continual improvement in health and safety in 2022.

 

Core Risks

 

SigmaRoc has worked closely with consultants and post-graduate researchers to continual improve our health & safety. This year has seen the focus on core risks which include:

 

· Contact with moving vehicles / objects

· Entrapment by machinery / moving parts

· Hit by suspended load / falling objects

· Falls from height

· Trapped by significant mass / energy

· Powders and COSHH material handling

 

Two primary areas of focus to improve our control of core risks has been on:

1.  Serious Injury or Fatality (SIF) framework; and

2.  Investigations.

 

SIF is the focus on events that could lead to Serious Injury or Fatality; in simple terms those events that cause or have the potential to cause life threatening / changing injuries. This work has been heavily developed in recent times and is seen to be the next evolution of well-grounded traditional H&S principles; driving the focus to those areas that are of the most serious nature. This has supported and aligns with our core risks and enables us to develop improved reporting to ensure action on those key areas.

 

The Group also maintains a strong focus on conducting detailed investigations, not only after an event has happened, but also before events happen. For example, through Bow Tie analysis, core risk events can be reviewed before they happen. This allows causes to be proactively identified so safety barriers can be implemented to mitigate routes to an adverse H&S event. On the flip side, the effects and consequences of the event are also proactively identified so safety barriers can be implemented to mitigate the impacts of such an event.

 

Post event investigation, including investigation on near hits, and externally publicised events both in our industry and beyond, is conducted. The level of investigation is proportional to the severity and seeks to review not just the event, but also organisation factors, task and environmental conditions, individual and team actions, and absent or failed defences.

 

It is by these principles and through core risk management and investigation that the Group can act to continually deliver its year-on-year H&S improvement.

 

Front line leadership

 

Following on from 2021, in 2022 the Group concluded its initial Group front line leadership initiative. The Group continues to support and drive NEBOSH and IOSH (or equivalent) training of supervisor and front-line management as an on-going process.

 

2022 laid the foundation for the 2023 initiative to ensure all front-line leaders spend optimal time on site, leading and managing safety, quality, and productivity. This includes engagement of our front-line leaders, which includes both supervisors and managers, and working closely with them to ensure they continue to be supported and equipped, whilst identifying and eliminating unnecessary process and reporting, to maintain a safe, lean, and agile business.

 

By focusing on the inputs of having boots on the ground and lean processes driven by our front-line leaders, the Group is confident that it will see continued improvement in the output of not only safety, but also quality and productivity.

 

HighVizz

 

Our ability to manage and report safety continues to thrive and develop through our HighVizz app. This includes supporting SIF identification, as well as new modules such as pre-start inspections, and enables our teams to have lean processes and systems that ensure risks are managed more effectively and efficiently.

 

Culture

 

The safety culture of the Group continues to have strong focus, as every new business comes with differing approaches to safety prior to joining SigmaRoc. In 2022, the H&S part of the monthly senior management meeting was given its own specific meeting held two weeks earlier. The meeting has been expanded to a wider audience to promote focus, communication and prompt closure of actions, with the ability to follow up key actions in the main senior management team meeting two weeks later; thereby driving the "plan, do, check, act" cycle used by the UK HSE.

 

The initiative based on football league tables in Belgium has shown huge success and has resulted in year-on-year increased engagement of nearly 400% for near hits, hazard, and risk identification and a subsequent reduction in SHIFR by 23%.

 

Occupational Health

 

Both SASB and the UK Minerals Product Association have a focus on occupational health, especially Silicosis. As a Group we have a hierarchy of controls, based upon best health and safety guidance and an assessment of the risks within our sites and workplaces ensuring compliance with HASWA 1974, MHSWR 1999, COSHH Regulations, L140 - HSE ACOP for HAVS, PUWER 1998, HSG258 - HSE Controlling airborne contaminants at work (use of LEVs) and EH75-4 and INDG 463 Silica and control methods.

 

These include:

· Use of Risk assessments, safe systems of works and COSHH assessments;

· Minimising dust generated by our operations through engineering controls such as enclosing processing equipment and transfer points, water suppression, use of spray systems for dust encapsulation and local exhaust ventilation;

· Periodic personal and local monitoring by external consultants and subsequent personal assessments against recognised exposure limits;

· Health questionnaires and health surveillance of staff by Occupational Health specialists;

· Where surveys identify potential exposure above recognised exposure limits warning signage is posted and workers are required to wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment including full and half masks, and air fed breathing systems;

· Time limits set for and policy of job rotation to minimise exposure times in addition to the use of specialised PPE in areas of risk;

· Training for new employees and regular refresher training for existing employees to raise awareness of the risks to health that can arise from exposure; and

· Training in the correct use and maintenance of PPE provided to protect their health and other checks such as face fit testing for dust masks.

 

 

1.3.  Stakeholders

 

Stakeholders

(in alphabetical

order)

Description

How we engage

 

Colleagues

We have a dedicated workforce of over 2,000 across the Group. We recognise our dedicated workforce as a key driver of the value derived from the business. Our colleagues are experienced and continuously developed to fulfil their potential. All employees are offered a fair benefits and compensation package relative to their role and level in the organisation. We encourage share ownership where it is available and, where possible, are working to setup where it is not currently in place.

Site presence and visual felt leadership. Employee groups and committees and unions. Focus on development training and succession planning. Decentralised approach with flat management allowing easy access to all staff. Employee benefit offerings that can also extend to family members.

Customers and Suppliers

All our businesses are decentralised and locally focused so that we know the customers' and suppliers' areas like they do. We work alongside our customers to provide "right first time" service and to seek proactive and innovative solutions to support requirements. "Right first time" is key to success and ensuring customer loyalty as part of our long-term success. We recognise the huge role our suppliers play in our long-term success. We strive to ensure timely payments and maximise value to support the delivery of our customers' needs. We balance economic requirements with sustainability considerations over the whole supply chain.

Prioritise a local focus on both customers and suppliers. Engage directly from our sites so that the customer and supplier deal directly with the site they are supplying or buying from. Ensure timely payments are made to suppliers. Functional and intuitive websites and digital solutions focused on the customer. Ensure adequate checks and due diligence are done on customers and suppliers.

Communities

By being decentralised and local we are at the heart of the communities in which we operate allowing us to be good, knowledgeable, supportive, and engaging neighbours.

Proactive approach and active participation in community and industry working groups, forums, and committees.

 

Investors

All our Shareholders play an important role in the continued success of our business. We maintain purposeful and close relationships with them either directly or via wider mediums such as Q&A webinars and conferences. We seek to be transparent and give clear and consistent messages across all communication channels.

Dedicated forums such as AGM, annual and interim webinar Q&As and/or interactive investor presentations. Annual and interim reports, trading statements and RNS. Regular phone calls and dialogues. Broker and NED contacts. Site visits, investor roadshows, investor conferences.

Regulators / local Government

We look to develop and sustain good relationships with many regulators who govern our businesses to ensure the success of our business and maintaining our license to operate. We areommited to adherence of legal And regulatory requirements. We are committed to have independent review / oversight be it internally or externally. We are committed to a sustainability framework following review of international standards.

Regular dialogue with Governments, Government agencies, regulators, and industry groups. Active membership of the industry bodies such Mineral Products Association, Federation Industries Extractives and European Lime Association. Effective and clear policies to ensure governance. Education and training of staff to reinforce compliance with regulations.

 

Stakeholder engagement

 

The Directors believe they have acted in the way most likely to promote the success of the Group for the benefit of its members as a whole, as required by s172 of the Companies Act 2006. The requirements of s172 are for the Directors to:

 

· Consider the likely consequences of any decision in the long term;

· Act fairly between the members of the Company;

· Maintain a reputation for high standards of business conduct;

· Consider the interests of the Group's employees;

· Foster the Group's relationships with suppliers, customers and others; and

· Consider the impact of the Group's operations on the community and environment.

 

The application of the s172 requirements are demonstrated throughout this report and the Accounts as a whole, with the following examples representing some of the key decisions made in 2022 and up to the date of these Accounts:

 

· Continued pursuit of buy and build growth strategy: the Group has continued its buy and build growth strategy, completing three acquisitions during 2022 and entering into a strategic JV partnership with ArcelorMittal.

 

· Management of Russian invasion into Ukraine: the Group successfully evacuated family members of Ukrainian colleagues into Poland and provided support near the Ukrainian border to those that were unable to evacuate.

 

 

· Dealing with impact from UPM union strike: the Group endured a 4-month union strike at one of its largest customers and managed to mitigate the impact through a combination of operational efficiency programmes and cost savings initiatives.

 

 

· Safety initiatives: safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is one of our top priorities and the Group continued to improve its health and safety standards.

 

1.4.  Membership

 

Membership to trade organisations, industry bodies and other agencies is critical to ensure continual improvement in all that we do and to help facilitate the ongoing changes our industry and our customers face. Across our platforms we both support and are supported by National and International bodies such as:

· Mineral Product Association (MPA): UK industry trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries.

· Federation Industries Extractives (Fediex) of which we have representation on the Board.

· European Lime Association (EuLA) of which we have representation on the Board.

· Industrial Minerals Association Europe (IMA Europe).

· European Calcium Carbonate Association (CCA).

· International Lime Association (ILA).

· FedBeton: Federation for ready-mixed concrete in Belgium.

 

Further to these bodies, businesses in the Group also have ISO accreditation or equivalent in ISO 9001 Quality (78%); ISO 14001 Environment (76%) and ISO 45001 Health & Safety (69%). Some businesses are currently going through ISO accreditation programs. Benelux was reviewed, however the local business and product accreditations held were deemed to have greater relevance than the ISO, for both our customers and end-users. 

 

Further information on ESG will be available via our dedicated ESG Report and at www.sigmaroc.com .

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December 2021

 

 

Underlying

Non-underlying* (Note 11)

Total

Underlying

Non-underlying* (Note 11 )

Total

Continued operations

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 








Revenue

7

537,993

-

537,993

271,987

-

271,987









Cost of sales

8

(422,056)

-

(422,056)

(210,068)

-

(210,068)









Profit from operations

 

115,937

-

115,937

61,919

-

61,919

 








Administrative expenses

8

(46,144)

(19,126)

(65,270)

(31,792)

(25,734)

(57,526)

Net finance (expense)/income

12

(8,910)

(1,528)

(10,438)

(5,317)

(1,682)

(6,999)

Other net gains / (losses)

13

1,853

641

2,494

1,978

(1,644)

334









Profit/(loss) before tax

 

62,736

(20,013)

42,723

26,788

(29,060)

(2,272)


 







Tax expense

15

(9,142)

-

(9,142)

(4,699)

-

(4,699)


 







Profit/(loss)

 

53,594

(20,013)

33,581

22,089

(29,060)

(6,971)


 







Profit/(loss) attributable to:

 







Owners of the parent

 

51,251

(20,013)

31,238

21,499

(29,060)

(7,561)

Non-controlling interest

31

2,343

-

2,343

590

-

590


 

53,594

(20,013)

33,581

22,089

(29,060)

(6,971)

Basic earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent (expressed in pence per share)

32

8.03

(3.14)

4.89

5.37

(7.26)

(1.89)

Diluted earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent (expressed in pence per share)

32

7.68

(3.00)

4.68

5.02

(6.79)

(1.77)


 






 

 

* Non-underlying items represent acquisition related expenses, restructuring costs, certain finance costs, share option expense and amortisation of acquired intangibles. See Note 11 for more information.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December 2021

 

 

Note

£'000

£'000

 

 




 

Profit/(loss) for the year

 

33,581

(6,971)

 

Other comprehensive income:




 

Items that will or may be reclassified to profit or loss:




 

FX translation reserve


17,735

(15,806)

 

Cash flow hedges - effective portion of changes in fair value


3,432

882

Remeasurement of the net defined benefits liability


202

155

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

21,369

(14,769)

 

Total comprehensive income


54,950

(21,740)

 

 


 

 

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to:




 

Owners of the parent


52,048

(22,343)

 

Non-controlling interests


2,902

603

 

Total comprehensive income for the period


54,950

(21,740)

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

 

Note

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

 

Non-current assets







Property, plant and equipment

16

523,188

256,436


257

429

 

Intangible assets

17

189,875

318,963


-

-

 

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

18

-

-


583,421

554,195

 

Investment in equity-accounted associate

19

576

524


-

-

 

Investment in joint ventures

19

5,942

5,134


-

-

 

Derivative financial asset

33

4,771

870


-

-

 

Other receivables

20

4,259

4,759


-

-

 

Deferred tax asset

15

4,426

3,129


-

-

 



733,037

589,815

 

583,678

554,624

 

Current assets







Trade and other receivables

20

86,805

73,254


3,168

2,890

 

Inventories

21

67,780

44,530


-

-

 

Cash and cash equivalents

22

68,623

69,916


5,055

19,038

 

Derivative financial asset

33

10,683

4,327


-

302

 

 


233,891

192,027

 

8,223

22,230

 

Total assets


966,928

781,842

 

591,901

576,854

 








 

Current liabilities







 

Trade and other payables

23

140,443

98,213


13,526

5,567

 

Derivative financial liabilities

33

6,693

737


-

-

 

Provisions

25

6,596

4,024


-

-

 

Borrowings

24

33,846

21,723


20,072

8,102

 

Current tax payable


1,251

3,934


-

-

 

 


188,829

128,631

 

33,598

13,669

 

Non-current liabilities


 


 

 


 

Borrowings

24

228,630

212,199


206,369

192,068

 

Employee benefit liabilities


1,312

1,589


-

-

 

Deferred tax liabilities

15

68,604

17,717


-

-

 

Derivative financial liabilities


552

-


-

-

Provisions

25

4,100

6,151


-

-

 

Other payables

23

5,051

4,401


5,051

4,401

 



308,249

242,057

 

211,420

196,469

 

Total liabilities


497,078

370,688

 

245,018

210,138

 

Net assets


469,850

411,154

 

346,882

366,716

 








 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent







 

Share capital

28

6,383

6,379


6,383

6,379

 

Share premium

28

400,022

399,897


400,022

399,897

 

Share option reserve

29

7,483

3,104


7,483

3,104

 

Other reserves

30

10,261

(11,236)


1,362

1,362

 

Retained earnings


33,969

2,116


(68,368)

(44,026)

 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent


458,118

400,260

 

346,882

366,716

 

Non-controlling interest

31

11,732

10,894


-

-

 

Total equity


469,850

411,154

 

346,882

366,716

 

 

 

The Company has elected to take the exemption under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 from presenting the Company's Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

The loss for the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 was £24.4 million (year ended 31 December 2021: loss of £26.3 million).

 

The Financial Statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 25 March 2023 were signed on its behalf by:

 

 

 

Garth Palmer

Chief Financial Officer

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Share

capital

Share premium

Share option reserve

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total

Non-controlling interest

Total

 

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Balance as at 1 January 2021


2,787

107,418

847

3,293

9,218

123,563

-

123,563

Profit for the year


-

-

-

-

(7,561)

(7,561)

590

(6,971)

Currency translation differences


-

-

-

(15,819)

-

(15,819)

13

(15,806)

Other comprehensive income


-

-

-

1,037

-

1,037

-

1,037

Total comprehensive income for the period


-

-

-

(14,782)

(7,561)

(22,343)

603

(21,740)

Contributions by and distributions to owners


 

 

 






Acquired via acquisition


-

-

-

-

-

-

9,031

9,031

Issue of share capital


3,089

258,996

-

-

-

262,085

1,260

263,345

Issue costs

28

-

(8,748)

-

-

-

(8,748)

-

(8,748)

Share based payments


503

42,231

2,322

-

-

45,056

-

45,056

Exercise of share options

 

-

-

(65)

 

65

-

-

-

Other equity adjustments

 

-

-

-

253

394

647

-

647

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

 

3,592

292,479

2,257

253

459

299,040

10,291

309,331

Balance as at 31 December 2021

 

6,379

399,897

3,104

(11,236)

2,116

400,260

10,894

411,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2022

 

6,379

399,897

3,104

(11,236)

2,116

400,260

10,894

411,154

Profit for the year

 

-

-

-

-

31,238

31,238

2,343

33,581

Currency translation differences

 

-

-

-

17,176

-

17,176

559

17,735

Other comprehensive income

 

-

-

-

3,634

-

3,634

-

3,634

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

20,810

31,238

52,048

2,902

54,950

Contributions by and distributions to owners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Acquired via acquisition


-

-

-

-

-

-

974

974

Issue of share capital

28

4

125

-

-

-

129

-

129

Share based payments


-

-

4,453

-

-

4,453

-

4,453

Exercise of share options


-

-

(74)

-

74

-

-

-

Dividends


-

-

-

-

-

-

(3,038)

(3,038)

Other equity adjustments


-

-

-

687

541

1,228

-

1,228

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

 

4

125

4,276

687

615

5,810

(2,064)

3,746

Balance as at 31 December 2022

 

6,383

400,022

7,483

10,261

33,969

458,118

11,732

469,850

 

 

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Share

capital

Share premium

Share option reserve

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total

 

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Balance as at 1 January 2021


2,787

107,418

847

1,362

(17,801)

94,613

Profit/(Loss)


-

-

-

-

(26,290)

(26,290)

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

-

(26,290)

(26,290)

Contributions by and distributions to owners

 

 

 

 




Issue of share capital

 

3,089

258,996

-

-

-

262,085

Issue costs

28

-

(8,748)

-

-

-

(8,748)

Share based payments


503

42,231

2,322

-

-

45,056

Exercise of share options


-

-

(65)

-

65

-

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

 

3,592

292,479

2,257

-

65

298,393

 

Balance as at 31 December 2021

 

6,379

399,897

3,104

1,362

(44,026)

366,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2022

 

6,379

399,897

3,104

1,362

(44,026)

366,716

Profit/(Loss)

 

-

-

-

-

(24,416)

(24,416)

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

-

(24,416)

(24,416)

Contributions by and distributions to owners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue of share capital


4

125

-

-

-

129

Issue costs

28

-

-

-

-

-

-

Share based payments


-

-

4,453

-

-

4,453

Exercise of share options


-

-

(74)

-

74

-

Total contributions by and distributions to owners

 

4

125

4,276

-

74

4,582

Balance as at 31 December 2022

 

6,383

400,022

7,483

1,362

(68,368)

346,882

 

 

CASH FLOW STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December 2021

 

Year ended 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December 2021

 

Note

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities







Profit/(loss)


33,581

(6,971)


(24,416)

(26,290)

Adjustments for:

 






Depreciation and amortisation

16 17

37,116

19,115


118

49

Impairments


30

2,006


-

-

Share option expense


4,453

2,321


4,453

2,321

Loss/(gain) on sale of PP&E


(1,471)

101



-

Net finance costs


10,438

7,360


7,032

2,705

Income tax expense

15

9,142

4,699


-

-

Share of earnings from joint ventures


(786)

(291)


-

-

Non-cash items


(475)

(1,103)


3,927

(275)

Increase in trade and other receivables


(6,807)

(1,178)


(450)

(1,142)

(Increase)/decrease in inventories


(17,322)

130


-

-

Increase in trade and other payables


31,182

9,142


4,151

2,348

Decrease in provisions


(19)

(1,339)


-

-

Income tax paid


(11,332)

(4,451)


-

-

Net cash inflows/(outflows) from operating activities


87,730

29,541

 

(5,185)

(20,284)

Investing activities


 



 


Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

16

(51,008)

(22,555)


(14)

(426)

Sale of property, plant and equipment


10,235

3,475


-

-

Purchase of intangible assets

17

(1,713)

(62)


-

-

Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired)


(43,318)

(350,940)


(43,427)

(379,854)

Financial derivative


278

(4,327)


302

(302)

Loans granted


-

(750)


-

(750)

Interest received


603

-


7

5

Net cash used in investing activities


(84,923)

(375,159)

 

(43,132)

(381,327)

Financing activities


 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from share issue


129

263,344


129

262,085

Cost of share issue


-

(8,748)


-

(8,748)

Proceeds from borrowings


36,154

155,734


26,840

167,020

Cost of borrowings


-

(5,425)


-

(5,425)

Repayment of borrowings


(30,361)

(12,253)


(8,067)

-

Net loans with subsidiaries


-

-


22,801

(3,927)

Interest paid


(9,732)

(3,511)


(7,537)

(1,858)

Dividends paid


(3,038)

(601)


-

-

Net cash used in financing activities


(6,848)

388,540

 

34,166

409,126



 



 


Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


(4,041)

42,922

 

(14,151)

7,515

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


69,916

27,452

 

19,038

11,521

Exchange losses on cash


2,748

(458)


168

2

Cash and cash equivalents and end of period

22

68,623

69,916

 

5,055

19,038

 

 

Major non-cash transactions

 

During the year ended 31 December 2022 there were share based payments of £0.5 million. During the year ended 31 December 2021 there were share based payments of £42.7 million as part of the Nordkalk acquisition. £0.8m is a non-cash gain on a liquidation of Coordination du Hainaut SCS and the remainder of non-cash movements are not considered material.

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.  General Information

 

The principal activity of SigmaRoc is to make investments and/or acquire projects in the quarried materials sector, and the principal activity of the Group is the production of high-quality aggregates and supply of value-added industrial and construction materials. The Company's shares are admitted to trading on AIM and it is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom.

 

The address of its registered office is 6 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BT.

 

2.  Accounting Policies

 

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these Financial Statements are set out below ('Accounting Policies' or 'Policies'). These Policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

 

2.1.  Basis of Preparing the Financial Statements

 

The Group and Company Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with  UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Financial Statements have also been prepared under the historical cost convention.

 

The Financial Statements are presented in UK Pounds Sterling rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

The preparation of Financial Statements in conformity with UK IASs requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's Accounting Policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the Financial Information are disclosed in Note 4 .

 

a)  Changes in Accounting Policy

 

i)  New standards and amendments adopted by the Group

 

The IASB issued various amendments and revisions to UK IAS and IFRSIC interpretations which include IFRS 3 - Reference to Conceptual Framework, IAS 37 - Onerous Contracts, IAS 16 - Proceeds before intended use, IAS 8 - Accounting estimates and Annual Improvements - 2018 - 2020 Cycle. The amendments and revisions were applicable for the period ended 31 December 2022 but did not result in any material changes to the financial statements of the Group or Company.

 

ii) New standards, amendments and interpretations in issue but not yet effective or not early adopted

 

Standards, amendments and interpretations that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted are as follows:

 

Standard 

Impact on initial application

Effective date

IAS 12

Income taxes

1 January 2023

IFRS 17

Insurance contracts

1 January 2023

IAS 8

Accounting estimates

1 January 2023

IAS 1

Presentation of Financial Statements

1 January 2023




 

 

The Group is evaluating the impact of the new and amended standards above which are not expected to have a material impact on the Group's results or shareholders' funds.

 

2.2.  Basis of Consolidation

 

a)  Subsidiaries

The Consolidated Financial Statements consolidate the Financial Statements of the Company and the accounts of all of its subsidiary undertakings for all periods presented.

 

Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. On consolidation all inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains and losses on transactions between group companies are eliminated. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

 

The Group applies the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date.

 

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred unless they result from the issuance of shares, in which case they are offset against the premium on those shares within equity.

 

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognised in accordance with IAS 39 either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not re-measured, and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

 

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment.

 

Where considered appropriate, adjustments are made to the financial information of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the Group. All intercompany transactions and balances between Group enterprises are eliminated on consolidation.

 

CDH, B-Mix, Stone and GduH use Belgian GAAP rules to prepare and report their financial statements. The Group reports using UK IAS standards and in order to comply with the Group's reporting standards, management of CDH and B-Mix processed several adjustments to ensure the financial information included at a Group level complies with UK IAS. CDH and B-Mix will continue to prepare their company financial statements in line with the Belgian GAAP rules.

 

Nordkalk entities use local GAAP rules to prepare and report their financial statements. The Group reports using UK IAS standards and in order to comply with the Group's reporting standards, management of Nordkalk processed several adjustments to ensure the financial information included at a Group level complies with UK IAS. Nordkalk will continue to prepare their company financial statements in line with the local GAAP rules.

 

b)  Associates

Associates are entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control over the financial and operating policies. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost. The Group's share of its associates' post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in profit or loss, and its share of post-acquisition movements in reserves is recognised in other comprehensive income. The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment.

Accounting policies of equity-accounted investees have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

 

c)  Joint Arrangement

A joint arrangement is an arrangement in which two or more parties have joint control. A joint venture is a joint arrangement in which the parties that share joint control have rights to the net assets of the arrangement. Joint arrangements are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost. The Group's share of its associates' post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in profit or loss

 

d)  Employee Benefit Trust

Where considered appropriate, adjustments are made to the financial information of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the Group. All intercompany transactions and balances between Group enterprises are eliminated on consolidation.

 

The Employee Benefit Trust is considered to be a special purpose entity in which the substance of the relationship is that of control by the group in order that the group may benefit from its control. The assets held by the trust are consolidated into the group.

 

2.3.  Going Concern

 

The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which the directors consider to be appropriate for the following reasons.

 

The Group meets its day-to-day working capital and other funding requirements through operating cash generation and its Debt Facilities. The Debt Facilities comprises of a £205 million committed term facility, £100 million revolving credit facility and a further £100 million accordion option which matures on 15 July 2026. The Group has met all covenants on its Debt Facilities.

 

The Group has prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of more than 12 months which anticipate a continuous upward trend of profitability and cash generation. As the Group has a strong focus on operational gearing, it can remain flexible during economically disruptive events which can have a negative effect on cash flow .

 

At 31 December 2022, the Group had cash of £68.6 million and undrawn banking facilities of £173 million, and at the date of this report has similar levels of liquidity which is expected to provide sufficient funds for the Group to discharge its liabilities as and when they fall due and ensure covenants are met.

 

Based on the above, the directors believe that it remains appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a Going Concern basis.

 

 

2.4.  Segment Reporting

 

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Board of Directors that makes strategic decisions.

 

2.5.  Foreign Currencies

 

e)  Functional and Presentation Currency

 

Items included in the Financial Statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the 'functional currency'). The Financial Statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, rounded to the nearest £000's, which is the Group's functional currency.

f)  Transactions and Balances

 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions or valuation where such items are re-measured. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the Income Statement.  Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the Income Statement within 'finance income or costs'. An exception to this is when the borrowings exchange differences arise on monetary items that form part of the reporting entity's net investment in a foreign operation, in the consolidated financial statements the exchange gain or loss will be shown in other comprehensive income. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in the Income Statement within 'Other net gains/(losses)'.

 

Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities such as equities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognised in profit or loss as part of the fair value gain or loss. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets measured at fair value, such as equities classified as available for sale, are included in other comprehensive income.

 

g)  Group companies

 

The results and financial position of all the Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 

· assets and liabilities for each period end date presented are translated at the period-end closing rate;

· income and expenses for each Income Statement are translated at average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the dates of the transactions); and

· all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

 

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated at the closing rate.  Exchange differences arising are recognised in other comprehensive income. On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign entities, and of monetary items receivable from foreign subsidiaries for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future, are taken to other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is sold, such exchange differences are recognised in the Income Statement as part of the gain or loss on sale.

 

2.6.  Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of subsidiaries and represents the excess of the consideration transferred and the acquisition date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquire over the fair value of the net identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquire.  If the total of consideration transferred, non-controlling interest recognised and previously held interest measured at fair value is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognised directly in the Income Statement.

 

As reported within the CEO's strategic report, a PPA was carried out to assess the fair value of the assets acquired in B-Mix and Nordkalk as at the completion date. As a result of this exercise, goodwill in B-Mix decreased from £6.4 million to £2 million with the corresponding movement being land and buildings. Goodwill in Nordkalk decreased from £268.8 million to £35 million with the corresponding movement being customer relations, vehicles, land and buildings and land and minerals. The current accounting policies regarding the subsequent treatment intangible assets will apply to fair value uplift attributable to the PPA.

 

Amortisation is provided on intangible assets to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful economic life on a straight-line basis at the following annual rates:

 

Goodwill

0%

Customer relations

7% - 12.5%

Intellectual property

10% - 12%

Research and Development

10% - 20%

Branding

5% - 10%

Other intangibles

10% - 20%

 

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to each of the cash-generating units, or groups of cash-generating units, that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated represents the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. Goodwill is monitored at the operating segment level.

 

Goodwill is not amortised however impairment reviews are undertaken annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. The carrying value of goodwill is compared to the recoverable amount, which is the higher of value in use, discounted to present value using a pre-tax discount rate reflective of the time value of money and risks specific to the business unit. Any impairment is recognised immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed.

 

Other intangibles consist of capitalised development costs for assets produced that assist in the operations of the Group and incur revenue. Impairment reviews are performed annually. Where the benefit of the intangible ceases or has been superseded, these are written off the Income Statement.

 

2.7.  Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, plus any purchase price allocation uplift, less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Subsequent costs are included in the asset's carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the Income Statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.

 

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful economic life on a straight-line basis at the following annual rates:

 

Office equipment

12.5% - 50%

Land and minerals

0 - 10%

Land and buildings

0 - 10%

Plant and machinery

4% - 33%

Furniture and vehicles

7.5% - 33.3%

Construction in progress

0%

 

The assets' residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

 

An asset's carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset's carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

 

Gains and losses on disposal are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised within 'Other net gains/(losses)' in the Income Statement.

 

2.8.  Land, Mineral Rights and Restoration Costs

 

Land, quarry development costs, which include directly attributable construction overheads and mineral rights are recorded at cost plus any PPA uplift.  Land and quarry development are depreciated and amortised, respectively, using the units of production method, based on estimated recoverable tonnage.

 

Where the Group has a legal or constructive obligation for restoration of a site the costs of restoring this site is provided for.  The initial cost of creating this provision is capitalised within property, plant and equipment and depreciated over the life of the site.  The provisions are discounted to their present value at a rate which reflects the time value of money and risks specific to the liability.  Changes in the measurement of a previously capitalized provision are accordingly added or deducted from the value of the asset. 

 

The depletion of mineral rights and depreciation of restoration costs are expensed by reference to the quarry activity during the period and remaining estimated amounts of mineral to be recovered over the expected life of the operation.

 

The process of removing overburden and other mine waste materials to access mineral deposits is referred to as stripping.

 

There are two types of stripping activity:

 

· Development stripping is the initial overburden removal during the development phase to obtain access to a mineral deposit that will be commercially produced.

· Production stripping relates to overburden removal during the normal course of production activities and commences after the first saleable minerals have been extracted from the component.

 

Development stripping costs are capitalised as a development stripping asset when:

 

· It is probable that future economic benefits associated with the asset will flow to the entity; and

· The costs can be measured reliably.

 

Production stripping can give rise to two benefits, the extraction of ore in the current period and improved access to the ore body component in future periods. To the extent that the benefit is the extraction of ore stripping costs are recognised as an inventory cost. To the extent that the benefit is improved access to future ore, stripping costs are recognised as a production stripping asset if the following criteria are met:

 

· It is probable that the future economic benefit (improved access to ore) will flow to the entity;

· The component of the ore body for which access has been improved can be identified; and

· The costs relating to the stripping activity can be measured reliably.

 

The development and production stripping assets are depreciated in accordance with units of production based on the proven and probable reserves of the relevant components. Stripping assets are classified as other minerals assets in property, plant and equipment.

 

 

2.9.  Financial Assets

 

Classification

The Group's financial assets consist of loans and receivables. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

 

(i)  Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading.  A financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term.  Derivatives are also categorised as held for trading unless they are designated as hedges.

 

Assets in this category are classified as current assets if expected to be settled within 12 months; otherwise, they are classified as non-current. 

 

(ii)  Financial Assets at Fair Value through other comprehensive income

 

A financial asset is classified and subsequently measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if it meets the SPPI criterion and is managed in a business model in which assets are held both for sale and to collect contractual cash flows, or if an investment in an equity instrument is elected to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income. Derivatives eligible for hedge accounting are classified as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.

 

(iii)  Loans and Receivables

 

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market.  They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets. The Group's loans and receivables comprise trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents at the year-end.

 

Recognition and Measurement

Regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on the trade date - the date on which the Group commits to purchasing or selling the asset.  Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss is initially recognised at fair value, and transaction costs are expensed in the Income Statement.  Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been transferred, and the Group has transferred substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership.

 

Loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

 

Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are presented in the Income Statement within "Other (Losses)/Gains" in the period in which they arise.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities recognition and measurement

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value. The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and, if so, the nature of the item being hedged.  The Group designates certain derivatives as either:

 

· hedges of the fair value of recognised assets or liabilities or a firm commitment (fair value hedge);

· hedges of a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction (cash flow hedge); or

· hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation (net investment hedge).

 

At inception of the hedge relationship, the Group documents the economic relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, including whether changes in the cash flows of the hedging instruments are expected to offset changes in the cash flows of hedged items. The Group documents its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking its hedge transactions.

 

The fair values of various derivative instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in Note 33 .  Movements on the revaluation reserve in shareholders' equity are shown in Note 30 .  The full fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current asset or liability if the remaining maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months, and as a current asset or liability if the remaining maturity of the hedged item is less than 12 months.  Trading derivatives are classified as a current asset or liability.

 

Impairment of Financial Assets

The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset, or a group of financial assets, is impaired. A financial asset, or a group of financial assets, is impaired and impairment losses are incurred, only if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the assets (a "loss event"), and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset, or group of financial assets, that can be reliably estimated.

 

The criteria that the Group uses to determine that there is objective evidence of an impairment loss include:

 

· significant financial difficulty of the issuer or obligor;

· a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal repayments;

· the Group, for economic or legal reasons relating to the borrower's financial difficulty, granting to the borrower a concession that the lender would not otherwise consider; and

· it becomes probable that the borrower will enter bankruptcy or another financial reorganisation.

 

The Group first assesses whether objective evidence of impairment exists.

 

The amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred), discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The asset's carrying amount is reduced and the loss is recognised in the Income Statement.

 

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised (such as an improvement in the debtor's credit rating), the reversal of the previously recognised impairment loss is recognised in the Income Statement.

 

2.10.  Inventories

 

Inventories are initially recognised at cost, and subsequently at the lower of cost and net realisable value, which is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less applicable variable selling expenses. Cost comprises all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. In the case of manufactured inventories and work in progress, cost includes an appropriate share of overheads based on normal operating capacity.

 

Weighted average cost is used to determine the cost of ordinarily interchangeable items.

 

2.11.  Trade Receivables

 

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value, and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. Trade receivables are amounts due from third parties in the ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

 

Trade receivables - factoring

The carrying amounts of the trade receivables excludes receivables which are subject to a factoring arrangement. Under this arrangement, the Group has transferred the relevant receivables to the factor in exchange for cash without recourse. Therefore, it doesn't recognise the transferred assets in their entirety in its balance sheet.

 

The value of factored receivables at each year end are as follows:

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Total factoring

5,004

2,960

 

 

2.12.  Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

 

2.13.  Share Capital

 

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

 

2.14.  Reserves

 

Share Premium - the reserve for shares issued above the nominal value. This also includes the cost of share issues that occurred during the year.

 

Retained Earnings - the retained earnings reserve includes all current and prior periods retained profit and losses.

 

Share Option Reserve - represents share options awarded by the Company.

 

Other Reserves comprise the following:

 

Capital Redemption Reserve - the capital redemption reserve is the amount equivalent to the nominal value of shares redeemed by the Group.

 

Foreign Currency Translation Reserve - represents the translation differences arising from translating the financial statement items from functional currency to presentational currency.

 

Deferred Shares - are shares that effectively do not have any rights or entitlements.

 

Hedging Reserve - includes derivative instruments used for cash-flow hedging.

 

Fair-value Reserve - represents the changes of values in certain assets.

 

2.15.  Trade Payables

 

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

 

Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value, and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

 

2.16.  Provisions

 

The Group provides for the costs of restoring a site where a legal or constructive obligation exists. The estimated future costs for known restoration requirements are determined on a site-by-site basis and are calculated based on the present value of estimated future costs.

 

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. When a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows (where the effect of the time value of money is material). The increase in provisions due to the passage of time is included in the Consolidated Income Statement.

 

2.17.  Borrowings

 

Bank and Other Borrowings

 

Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts and other loans are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. All borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost with the difference between initial net proceeds and redemption value recognised in the Income Statement over the period to redemption on an effective interest basis.

 

2.18.  Taxation

 

Tax is recognised in the Income Statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

 

Deferred tax is recognised using the liability method in respect of temporary differences arising from differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.

 

In principle, deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets (including those arising from investments in subsidiaries), are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

 

Deferred income tax assets are recognised on deductible temporary differences arising from investments in subsidiaries only to the extent that it is probable the temporary difference will reverse in the future and there is sufficient taxable profit available against which the temporary difference can be used.

 

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

 

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date and are expected to apply to the period when the deferred tax asset is realised, or the deferred tax liability is settled.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

 

2.19.  Non-Underlying Items

 

Non-underlying items are a non UK IAS measure, but the Group have disclosed these separately in the financial statements, where it is necessary to do so to provide further understanding of the financial performance of the Group.  They are items that are not expected to be recurring or do not relate to the ongoing operations of the Group's business and non-cash items which distort the underlying performance of the business.

 

2.20.  Revenue Recognition

 

Group revenue arises from the sale of goods and contracting services. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods or services supplied in course of ordinary business, stated net of discounts, returns and value added taxes. The Group recognises revenue in accordance with IFRS 15, identifying performance obligations within its contracts with customers, determining the transaction price applicable to each of these performance obligations and selecting an appropriate method for the timing of revenue recognition, reflecting the substance of the performance obligation at either a point in time or over time.

 

Sale of goods

The majority of the Group's revenue is derived from the sale of physical goods to customers. Depending on whether the goods are delivered to or collected by the customer, the contract contains either one performance obligation which is satisfied at the point of collection, or two performance obligations which are satisfied simultaneously at the point of delivery. The performance obligation of products sold are transferred according to the specific terms that have been formally agreed with the customer, generally upon delivery when the bill of lading is signed as evidence that they have accepted the product delivered to them.

 

The transaction price for this revenue is the amount which can be invoiced to the customer once the performance obligations are fulfilled, reduced to reflect provisions recognised for returns, trade discounts and rebates. The Group does not routinely offer discounts or volume rebates, but where it does the variable element of revenue is based on the most likely amount of consideration that the Group believes it will receive. This value excludes items collected on behalf of third parties, such as sales and value added taxes.

 

For all sales of goods, revenue is recognised at a point in time, being the point that the goods are transferred to the customer.

 

Contracting services

The majority of contracting services revenue arises from contract surfacing work, which typically comprises short-term contracts with a performance obligation to supply and lay product. Other contracting services revenue can contain more than one performance obligation dependent on the nature of the contract.

 

The transaction price is calculated as consideration specified by the contract, adjusted to reflect provisions recognised for returns, remedial work arising in the normal course of business, trade discounts and rebates.

 

Where the contract provides for elements of variable consideration, these values are included in the calculation of the transaction price only to the extent that it is 'highly probable' that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognised will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Where the transaction price is allocated between multiple performance obligations on other contracts, this typically reflects the allocation of value to each performance obligation agreed with the end customer, unless this does not reflect the economic substance of the transaction.

 

Performance obligations for contracting services are satisfied over time. Revenue is therefore recognised over time on an output basis, being volume of product laid for contract surfacing. As the performance obligations relating to contracting revenues have an expected duration less than 12 months, the Group has taken the practical expedient on the performance obligations disclosures. 

 

2.21.  Finance Income

 

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method.

 

2.22.  Employee Benefits - Defined contribution plans

 

The Group maintains defined contribution plans for which the Group pays fixed contributions to publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts. The Group's contributions to defined contribution plans are charged to the Income Statement in the period to which the contributions relate.

 

2.23.  Employee Benefits - Defined benefit plans

 

The Group's net obligation in respect of defined benefit plans is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the amount of the future benefit that employees have earned in the current and prior periods, discounting the amount and deducting the fair value of any plan assets.

 

Defined benefit obligations are calculated annually by a qualified actuary using the projected unit credit method. When the calculation results in a potential asset for the Group, the recognised asset is limited to the present value of economic benefits available in the form of any future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. To calculate the present value of economic benefits, consideration is given to any applicable minimum funding requirements.

 

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses, the return on plan assets (excluding interest) and the effect of the asset ceiling (if any, excluding interest), are recognised immediately in other comprehensive income. The Group determines the net interest expense (income) for the net defined benefit liability (asset) for the period by applying the discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the then-net defined benefit liability (asset), taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability (asset) during the period as a result of contributions and benefit payments. Net interest expense relating to defined benefit plans are recognised in profit or loss in net financial items.

 

When the benefits of a plan are changed or when a plan is curtailed, the resulting change in benefit that relates to past service or the gain or loss on the curtailment is recognised immediately in the profit or loss. The Group recognises gains and losses on the settlement of a defined benefit plan when the settlement occurs.

 

2.24.  Share Based Payments

 

The Group operates a number of equity-settled, share-based schemes, under which the entity receives services from employees or third-party suppliers as consideration for equity instruments (options and warrants) of the Group. The fair value of the third-party suppliers' services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense in the Consolidated Income Statement or charged to equity depending on the nature of the service provided. The value of the employee services received is expensed in the Income Statement and its value is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted:

 

· including any market performance conditions;

· excluding the impact of any service and non-market performance vesting conditions (for example, profitability or sales growth targets, or remaining an employee of the entity over a specified time period); and

· including the impact of any non-vesting conditions (for example, the requirement for employees to save).

 

Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. The total expense or charge is recognised over the vesting period, which is the period over which all of the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. At the end of each reporting period, the entity revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on the non-market vesting conditions. It recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the Income Statement or equity as appropriate, with a corresponding adjustment to a separate reserve in equity.

 

When the options are exercised, the Company issues new shares. The proceeds received, net of any directly attributable transaction costs, are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when the options are exercised.

 

2.25.  Discontinued Operations

 

A discontinued operation is a component of the Group's business, the operations and cash flows of which can be clearly distinguished from the rest of the Group and which:

 

· represents a separate major line of business or geographic area of operations;

· is part of a single co-ordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographic area of operations; or

· is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to re-sale.

 

Classification as a discontinued operation occurs at the earlier of disposal or when the operation meets the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale. The Group operates several business units which are constantly reviewed to ensure profitability. During 2019 it was determined that the flagging & paving division at CCP's Bury site was loss making and therefore it was decided that the operations at this site be discontinued. For further information, refer to Note 14 .

 

2.26.  Leases

 

The Group leases certain plant and equipment. Leases of plant and equipment where the Group has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases under IFRS 16.  Finance leases are capitalised on the lease's commencement at the lower of the fair value of the leased assets and the present value of the minimum lease payments. Other leases are either small in value or cover a period of less than 12 months.

 

Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in long-term borrowings. The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the Income Statement over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. Assets obtained under finance leases are depreciated over their useful lives. The lease liabilities are shown in Note 24 .

 

Rent payable under operating leases on which the short term exemption has been taken, less any lease incentives received, is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the lease asset are consumed.

 

2.27.  Prior year restatement

 

During the year, the prior year accounting treatment of the PPA on acquisitions has been revisited. The fair value uplift on assets acquired as part of the PPA exercise should have resulted in a deferred tax liability being recognised in accordance with IFRS 3 and IAS 12. As a result, a prior year restatement to include deferred tax with acquired goodwill increasing by the same amount has been reflected within the financial statements. There are no changes to the prior period income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity or the statement of cash flows. See Note 39 for details of the impact on the financial statement.

 

3.  Financial Risk Management

 

3.1.  Financial Risk Factors

 

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group's overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group's financial performance.

 

Risk management is carried out by the UK based management team under policies approved by the Board of Directors.

 

a)  Market Risk

The Group is exposed to market risk, primarily relating to interest rate, foreign exchange and commodity prices. The Group has not sensitised the figures for fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange or commodity prices as the Directors are of the opinion that these fluctuations would not have a significant impact on the Financial Statements at the present time. The Group has a strong focus on operational gearing, allowing it to be flexible during economically disruptive events however the Directors will continue to assess the effect of movements in market risks on the Group's financial operations and initiate suitable risk management measures where necessary.

 

b)  Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises from cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments and, principally, from the Group's receivables from customers.

 

Management monitors the exposure to credit risk on an ongoing basis and have credit insurance at a number of its subsidiaries. The Nordkalk entities don't hold credit insurance as they have a stable customer base with minimal credit losses. No credit limits were exceeded during the period, and management does not expect any losses from non-performance by these counterparties.

 

Exposure to credit risk

 

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date was:

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Trade and other receivables

91,064

78,013

Cash and cash equivalents

68,623

69,916


159,687

147,929

 

Credit risk associated with cash balances is managed and limited by transacting with financial institutions with high-quality credit ratings.

 

Trade and other receivables

 

The Group's exposure to credit risk stems mainly from the individual characteristics of each customer. However, management also considers the factors that could influence the credit risk of its customer base, including the default risk of the industry and country in which customers operate.

 

The Group has established a credit policy under which each new customer is analysed individually for creditworthiness, before the Group's standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered to the customer. The Group's review includes external ratings, when available, and in some cases bank references.

 

Most of the Group's customers have been trading with the Group for years, and no major credit losses have occurred with these customers. Credit risk is monitored by grouping customers according to their credit characteristics, including whether they are individuals or legal entities and whether they are wholesale, retail or end-user customers, as well as by geographic location, industry and the existence of previous financial difficulties.

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade and other receivables by reportable segment, was:

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

North West

21,505

18,731

West

13,387

9,103

North East

56,172

50,179


91,064

78,013

 

Impairment

At the reporting date the ageing of the trade receivables that were not impaired, were as follows.

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Total trade receivables

79,261

66,166

Not overdue

68,051

47,345

Overdue 1 - 30 days

8,913

14,211

Overdue 31 - 60 days

1,491

1,996

Overdue 61 - 90 days

437

815

More than 90 days

554

1,799

Impairment loss recognised

(185)

(182)

 

Provisions for impairment of trade and other receivables are calculated on a lifetime expected loss model in line with the simplified approach available under IFRS 9 for Trade Receivables. The key inputs in determining the level of provision are the historical level of bad debts experienced by the Group and ageing of outstanding amounts. Movements during the year were as follows:

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

At January 1

1,060

763

Amounts arising from business combinations

36

571

Charged to the Consolidated income statement during the year

132

182

Movement in provision

(846)

(456)


382

1,060

 

Derivatives

Subsidiary currency risks are hedged by the parent or ultimate parent acting as counterparty in currency forward deals. External currency hedging is performed by finance and treasury functions as appropriate. In such deals, the counterparty is a bank or financial institution with a rating at least Baa3 from Moody's rating agency. A comparable credit rating from a reputable credit rating agency is acceptable. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis in rare cases where a bank is chosen for geographical reasons, but does not fulfil the stipulated rating criteria.

 

Items hedged against are CO2 emission rights, forecast energy consumption, loans in foreign currency and forecast earnings.

 

c)  Currency Risk

Following the Nordkalk acquisition, the Group is exposed to currency risk to the extent that there is a mismatch between the currencies in which sales and purchases are denominated and the respective functional currencies of Group companies. The functional currencies of Group companies are primarily the Pound, the Euro, the Polish Zlothy (PLN) and the Swedish Krona (SEK). The currencies in which these transactions are primarily denominated are GBP, EUR, PLN and SEK. Additional exposures may arise from purchase of fuel in USD.

 

At any point in time, the Group hedges on average 60 to 100 per cent of its estimated foreign currency exposure in respect of forecast sales and purchases over the following 12-18 months. The Group uses forward exchange contracts to hedge its currency risk, with a maturity of up to 12 months from the reporting date.

 

Borrowings are, with a few exceptions, denominated in the subsidiaries domestic currencies.

 

In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, the Group's policy is to ensure that its net exposure remains at an acceptable level by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates when necessary to address short-term imbalances.

 

Exposure to currency risk

Currency risk sensitivity to a +/- 10 per cent change in the exchange rate is shown for the net currency position per currency. The summary of quantitative data relating to the Group's exposure to currency risk as reported to the Group management is as follows.

 

2022

 

GBP thousand

USD

SEK

NOK

PLN

Gross exposure

(17,126)

17,028

(3,571)

(1,185)

Hedged

17,532

(14,068)

3,012

720

Net exposure

406

2,960

(559)

(465)

Sensitivity analysis (+/- 10%)

41

296

(56)

(47)

 

 

d)  Liquidity Risk

The Group's continued future operations depend on the ability to raise sufficient working capital through the issue of equity share capital or debt. The Directors are reasonably confident that adequate funding will be forthcoming with which to finance operations owing to the continued support of the lenders and a history of successful capital raises. Controls over expenditure are carefully managed.

 

2022

1-12 months

1-2 years

2-5 years

More than 5 years

Contractual cash flows

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Non-derivative financial liabilities





Loans

26,500

29,879

177,503

1,577

Trade payables

69,907

-

-

-

 

96,407

29,879

177,503

1,577

Derivative financial liabilities





Forward exchange contracts used for hedging

556

-

-

-

Electricity hedges

825

526

26

-


1,381

526

26

-

 

The outflows disclosed in the above tables represent the contractual undiscounted cash flows relating to derivative financial liabilities held for risk management purposed and which are not usually closed out before contractual maturity.

 

The interest payments on the variable interest rate loans in the table above reflect market forward interest rates at the reporting date and these amounts may change in line with changes in market interest rates. The future cash flows from derivative instruments may differ from the amount in the above table as interest rates and exchange rates change. With the exception of these financial liabilities, it is not expected that the cash flows included in the maturity analysis could occur significantly earlier or at significantly different amounts.

 

 

3.2.  Capital Risk Management

 

The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, in order to enable the Group to continue its construction material investment activities, and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

 

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the issue of shares or sell assets to reduce debts.

 

The Group defines capital based on the total equity of the Company. The Group monitors its level of cash resources available against future planned operational activities and the Company may issue new shares in order to raise further funds from time to time.

 

The gearing ratio at 31 December 2022 is as follows:

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Total borrowings (Note 24 )

262,476

233,923

Less: Cash and cash equivalents (Note 22 )

(68,623)

(69,916)

Net debt

193,853

164,007

Total equity

469,850

411,154

Total capital

663,703

575,161

Gearing ratio

0.29

0.29

 

 

4.  Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of the Financial Statements, in conformity with UK IASs, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amount of expenses during the year. Actual results may vary from the estimates used to produce these Financial Statements.

 

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to:

 

a)  Land and Mineral Reserves

 

The determination of fair values of land and mineral reserves are carried out by appropriately qualified persons in accordance with the Appraisal and Valuation standards published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The estimation of recoverable reserves is based upon factors such as estimates of commodity prices, future capital requirements and production costs along with geological assumptions and judgements.

 

The PPAs included the revaluation of land and minerals based on the estimated remaining reserves within St John's, Les Vardes, Aberdo, Carrières du Hainaut, Harries and Nordkalk quarries. These are then valued based on the estimated remaining life of the mines and the net present value for the price per tonnage.

 

b)  Estimated Impairment of Goodwill

 

The determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination involves the use of estimates and assumptions; such as discount rates used and valuation models applied as well as goodwill allocation.

 

Goodwill has a carrying value of £115.2 million as at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: £293 million). The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated in Note 2.6 to the Financial Statements.

 

Management has concluded that an impairment charge was not necessary to the carrying value of goodwill for the period ended 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: £nil). See Note 2.6 to the Financial Statements.

 

c)  Restoration Provision

 

The Group's provision for restoration costs has a carrying value at 31 December 2022 of £6.1 million (31 December 2021: £4.3 million) and relate to the removal of the plant and equipment held at quarries in the Channel Islands, United Kingdom and Northern Europe. The cost of removal was determined by management for the removal and disposal of the machinery at the point of which the reserves are no longer available for business use.

 

The restoration provision is a commitment to restore the site to a safe and secure environment. The provisions are reviewed annually. 

 

d)  Fair Value of Share Options

 

The Group has made awards of options and warrants over its unissued share capital to certain Directors and employees as part of their remuneration packages.

 

The valuation of these options and warrants involves making a number of critical estimates relating to price volatility, future dividend yields, expected life of the options and forfeiture rates. These assumptions have been described in more detail in Note 29 to the Financial Statements.

 

e)  Valuation and timing of deferred consideration

 

As part of the acquisition of Harries, the Group has agreed to pay royalty payments over the next 10 years with a minimum total value of £10m. The estimated present value of these payments is £5.1m. In determining this value, management must make critical estimates as to the timing, value and cost of money of these payments.

 

f)  Recognition of deferred tax assets

 

Uncertainty exists related to the availability of future taxable profit against which tax losses carried forward can be used, however deferred tax assets are recognised for unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the losses can be utilised. Significant management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognised, based on the likely timing and level of future taxable profits, together with future tax planning strategies. Further information on income taxes is disclosed in Note 15.

 

g)  Defined benefit obligations - actuarial assumptions

 

The present value of the pension obligations is subject to actuarial assumptions used by actuaries to calculate these obligations. Actuarial assumptions include the discount rate, the annual rate of increase in future compensation levels and inflation rate. Further details on assumptions used are disclosed in Note 26 .

 

h)  Fair value of financial instruments

 

The fair values of financial instruments that cannot be determined based on quoted market prices and rates are established using different valuation techniques. The Group uses judgement to select methods and make assumptions that are mainly based on market conditions existing at the end of the reporting period. Factors regarding valuation techniques and their assumptions could affect the reported fair values.

 

 

5.  Dividends

 

No dividend has been declared or paid by the Company during the year ended 31 December 2022 (2021: nil).

 

 

6.  Segment Information

 

Management has determined the operating segments based on reports reviewed by the Board of Directors that are used to make strategic decisions. During the periods presented the Group has three geographical regions, North West which comprises of PPG, England, Wales and Channel Islands; West which comprises of Dimension Stone and Benelux; and North East which comprises of Quicklime, Nordics, Poland and Baltics. Activities in the North West, West and North East regions relate to the production and sale of construction material products and services.

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2022

 

 

North West

West

North East

Total

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Revenue

139,709

87,365

310,919

537,993

 

Profit from operations per reportable segment

36,444

22,478

57,015

115,937

 

Additions to non-current assets

62,400

6,137

28,612

97,149

 

Reportable segment assets

221,317

138,823

606,788

966,928

 

Reportable segment liabilities

342,255

27,806

127,017

497,078

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2021

 

North West

West

North East

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

103,363

72,668

95,956

271,987

Profit from operations per reportable segment

24,094

20,050

17,775

61,919

Additions to non-current assets

(6,527)

10,611

378,174

382,258

Reportable segment assets (restated)

166,641

119,631

495,570

781,842

Reportable segment liabilities (restated)

253,441

27,714

89,533

370,688

 

 

7.  Revenue

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Upstream products

75,244

44,190

Value added products

401,012

198,107

Value added services

52,292

24,064

Other

9,445

5,626

 

537,993

271,987

 

Upstream products revenue relates to the sale of aggregates and cement. Value added products is the sale of finished goods that have undertaken a manufacturing process within each of the subsidiaries. Value added services consists of the transportation, installation and contracting services provided.

 

All revenues from upstream and value added products relate to products for which revenue is recognised at a point in time as the product is transferred to the customer. Value added services revenues are accounted for as products and services for which revenue is recognised over time.

 

The Group contract revenue for the year ended 31 December 2022 was £24.9m.

 

 

8.  Expenses by Nature

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Cost of sales

 

 

Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress

9,003

10,854

Raw materials & production

198,984

75,452

Distribution & selling expenses

43,671

18,622

Employees & contractors

71,936

48,698

Maintenance expense

21,543

12,556

Plant hire expense

6,449

5,374

Depreciation & amortisation expense

30,085

17,156

Other costs of sale

40,385

21,356

Total cost of sales

422,056

210,068

Administrative expenses

 

 

Operational admin expenses

42,455

30,175

Corporate admin expenses

22,815

27,351

Total administrative expenses

65,270

57,526

 

Corporate administrative expenses include £14.1 million of non-underlying expenses (refer to Note 11 ).

 

During the year the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Company's auditors and its associates:

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for the audit of the Company and Consolidated Financial Statements

414

360

Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for tax services

-

-

Fees paid or payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for due diligence and transactional services associated with the readmission of the Company trading on AIM

117

300

Fees paid to the Company's auditor for other services

-

-

 

531

660

 

 

9.  Employee Benefits Expense

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Staff costs (excluding directors)

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Salaries and wages

87,682

54,071


2,990

2,104

Post-employment benefits

250

278


28

80

Social security contributions and similar taxes

1,891

1,679


329

386

Other employment costs

8,594

8,436


2

17

 

98,417

64,464

 

3,349

2,587

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Average number of FTE employees by function

#

#

 

#

#

Management

69

85


6

5

Operations

1,550

1,371


-

-

Administration

426

409


4

4

 

2,045

1,865

 

10

9

 

 

10.  Directors' Remuneration

 

 

 

31 December 2022

 

Directors' fees

Bonus

Taxable benefits

Pension benefits

Options issued

Total

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Executive Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Barrett

375

469

15

-

-

859

 

Garth Palmer

375

469

15

40

-

899

 

Max Vermorken

475

594

15

60

-

1,144

 

Non-executive Directors







 

Timothy Hall

50

-

-

-

-

50

 

Simon Chisholm

50

-

-

5

-

55

 

Jacques Emsens

50

-

-

-

-

50

 

Axelle Henry (1)

34

-

-

-

-

34

 

 

1,409

1,532

45

105

-

3,091

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2021

 

Directors' fees

Bonus

Taxable benefits

Pension benefits

Options issued (4)

Total

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Executive Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Barrett

358

469

14

-

61

902

 

Garth Palmer (2)

151

180

5

13

52

401

 

Max Vermorken

456

594

14

30

129

1,223

 

Non-executive Directors







 

Timothy Hall

43

-

-

-

22

65

 

Dean Masefield (3)

120

-

6

8

-

134

 

Simon Chisholm

43

-

-

4

-

47

 

Jacques Emsens

43

-

-

-

-

43

 

 

1,214

1,243

39

55

264

2,815

 

 

 

(1)  Appointed on 26 April 2022

(2)  Garth Palmer was reappointed as CFO on 31 August 2021. His bonus was performance based for the period 31 August 2021 to 31 December 2021. 

(3)  Resigned on 31 August 2021.

(4)  Options issued relate to options granted in the 2019 financial year and vesting in the 2021 financial year. 

 

The bonuses earned in the year by the Directors reflect the performance of the business, were based on industry standard criteria taking into account external market data, were recommended by the Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board.

 

 

11.  Non-underlying Items

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Acquisition related expenses

4,345

20,125

Amortisation and remeasurement of acquired assets

6,761

1,888

Amortisation of finance costs

1,085

784

Restructuring expenses

1,780

2,334

Innovation

497

-

Discontinued operations

97

169

Share option expense

4,670

2,321

Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration

443

825

Net other non-underlying expenses & gains

335

614

 

20,013

29,060

 

Under IFRS 3 - Business Combinations, acquisition costs have been expensed as incurred. Additionally, the Group incurred costs associated with obtaining debt financing, including advisory fees to restructure the Group to satisfy lender requirements.

 

Acquisition related expenses include costs relating to the due diligence of prospective pipeline acquisitions, stamp duty on completed acquisitions, warranty & indemnity insurance and other direct costs associated with merger & acquisition activity. During the year the Group acquired Johnston Quarry Group, RightCast and La Belonga and undertook due diligence on numerous other prospective acquisitions.

 

Amortisation and remeasurement of acquired assets are non-cash items which distort the underlying performance of the businesses acquired. Amortisation of acquired assets arise from certain fair value uplifts resulting from the PPA. Remeasurement of acquired assets arises from ensuring assets from acquisitions are depreciated in line with Group policy. 

 

Restructuring expenses relate to the reorganisation and integration of recently acquired subsidiaries, including costs associated with site optimisation, transitional salary costs, redundancies, severance & recruitment fees, and costs associated with financial reporting and system migrations.

 

Share option expense is the fair value of the share options issued during the year and also includes fair value adjustment in 2022 resulting from changes to certain option exercise dates, refer to Note 29 more information.

 

Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration is a non-cash adjustment relating to deferred consideration arising on acquisitions.

 

Amortisation of finance costs is the amortisation of borrowing costs on the Syndicated Senior Credit Facility. These costs are amortised over a 5-year period.

 

Discontinued operations include the trading expenses, stock adjustments and redundancies incurred at the Bury site for the period from January 2022 to December 2022. Refer to Note 14 for more information.

 

Net other non-underlying expenses and gains include other advisory fees and other associated costs.

 

 

12.  Net Finance (Expense)/Income

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Net interest expense

(9,557)

(5,066)

Dividends

647

37

Other finance expense

(1,085)

(1,145)

Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration

(443)

(825)


(10,438)

(6,999)

 

 

13.  Other Net Gains/(Losses)

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Gain/(losses) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

1,471

(101)

Other gain/(loss)

20

730

Gain/(loss) on call options

248

632

Impairment

(30)

(2,006)

Share of earnings from joint ventures

786

291

Forex movement

-

788

 

2,495

334

 

 

14.  Discontinued Operations

 

From due diligence undertaken as part of the acquisition of CCP in January 2019, doubts existed over the viability of the flagging & paving division at its site in Bury. After a detailed review it was determined that the business unit was loss making and it was decided that the operations at this site be discontinued effective from 1 February 2019.

 

Financial information relating to the discontinued operation for the period is set out below.

 

Income statement

31 December 2022

£'000

31 December 2021

£'000

Revenue

-

-

Cost of sales

-

-

Gross profit

-

-

Administration

(97)

(169)

Other expenses

-

-

Loss from discontinued operation

(97)

(169)

Basic earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent (expressed in pence per share)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 

 

Cash movement

31 December 2022

£'000

31 December 2021

£'000

Net cash outflow from operating activities

-

(62)

Net cash inflow from investing activities

-

-

Net cash inflow from financing activities

-

-

Net increase / (decrease) in cash generated by the subsidiary

-

(62)

 

 

15.  Taxation

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Tax recognised in profit or loss

£'000

£'000

Current tax

(6,960)

(4,529)

Deferred tax

(2,182)

(170)

Total tax charge in the Income Statement

(9,142)

(4,699)

 

 

The tax on the Group's profit/(loss) before taxation differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the weighted average tax rate applicable to the profits/(losses) of the consolidated entities as follows:

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax

42,723

(2,272)

Tax on profit on ordinary activities at standard CT rate

9,806

494

Effects of:

 

 

Expenditure not deductible for tax purposes

1,119

4,874

Deferred tax not recognised

274

1,268

Remeasurement of deferred tax for changes in tax rates

214

(120)

Income not taxable for tax purposes

(2,016)

(903)

Prior year adjustments

(785)

(864)

Depreciation in excess of/(less than) capital allowances

347

(61)

Tax losses

183

11

Tax charge

9,142

4,699

 

The weighted average applicable tax rate of 18.26% (2021: 21.74%) used is a combination of the standard rate of corporation tax rate for entities in the United Kingdom of 19% (2021: 19%), 20% on quarrying of minerals and rental property (2021: 20%) in Jersey and Guernsey, 25% (2021: 25%) in Belgium, 20% (2021: 20%) in Finland, 20.6% (2021: 20.6%)  in Sweden, 19% (2021: 19%)  in Poland and 20% (2021: 20%) in Estonia.

 

Deferred Tax Asset

Tax losses

Temporary timing differences

Total

At 1 January 2022

-

3,129

3,129

Acquisition of subsidiary

-

-

-

Charged/(credited) directly to

equity 

-

1,295

1,295

At 31 December 2022

-

4,424

4,424

 

Deferred Tax Liability

Tax losses

Temporary timing differences

Total

As at 1 January 2022 (As previously stated)

(128)

5,318

5,190

Prior year adjustment - refer to Note 39

-

12,527

12,527

As at 1 January 2022 (As restated)

(128)

17,845

17,717

Acquisition of subsidiary

-

827

827

Arising on fair value adjustments on PPA

-

47,127

47,127

Charged/(credited) directly to

income statement

-

2,933

2,933

At 31 December 2022

(128)

68,732

68,604

 

Deferred income tax assets of £4.4 million (2021: £3.1 million) are recognised to the extent that the realisation of related tax benefits through future taxable profits is probable.  Deferred tax liabilities of £68.6 million (2021: 5.2 million) are recognised in full.  

 

 

 

16.  Property, Plant and Equipment

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Office Equipment

Land and minerals

Land and buildings

Plant and machinery

Vehicles

Right of use

Construction in progress

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cost









As at 1 January 2021

4,225

104,379

45,949

98,498

24,537

-

1,247

278,835

Acquired through acquisition

210

81,482

70,622

193,425

3,813

-

10,504

360,056

Transfer between classes

-

-

1,149

(122)

342

-

(1,369)

-

Fair value adjustment

-

3,433

1,539

-

-

-

-

4,972

Additions

364

3,324

3,768

9,944

2,294

-

2,861

22,555

Disposals

-

(190)

(592)

(7,764)

(6,008)

-

-

(14,554)

Forex

(206)

(2,461)

(1,202)

(4,063)

(383)

-

-

(8,315)

As at 31 December 2021

4,593

189,967

121,233

289,918

24,595

-

13,243

643,549

As at 1 January 2022

4,593

189,967

121,233

289,918

24,595

 

13,243

643,549

Acquired through acquisition

157

-

20,601

15,294

227

2,052

38

38,369

Transfer between classes

-

74

(5,722)

(24,217)

(2,350)

35,014

(2,799)

-

Fair value adjustment

-

211,629

10,508

12,450

3

-

-

234,590

Additions

222

2,051

15,160

24,274

1,491

5,926

1,884

51,008

Disposals

(56)

(468)

(4,525)

(2,888)

(2,356)

(2,862)

-

(13,156)

Forex

177

2,881

653

10,382

915

(696)

(671)

13,642

As at 31 December 2022

5,093

406,134

157,908

325,213

22,525

39,434

11,695

968,002

Depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2021

3,817

11,373

25,084

76,737

17,031

-

-

134,042

Transfer between classes

-

-

-

(309)

309

-

-

-

Acquired through acquisition

150

57,487

40,927

149,510

3,114

-

-

251,188

Charge for the year

267

2,396

3,423

10,038

1,635

-

-

17,759

Disposals

-

-

(592)

(7,298)

(3,087)

-

-

(10,977)

Impairment

-

-

380

684

-

-

-

1,064

Forex

(194)

(1,082)

(829)

(3,088)

(770)

-

-

(5,963)

As at 31 December 2021

4,040

70,174

68,393

226,274

18,232

-

-

387,113

As at 1 January 2022

4,040

70,174

68,393

226,274

18,232

 

-

387,113

Transfer between classes

-

-

(1,850)

(14,533)

(1,101)

17,484

-

-

Acquired through acquisition

77

-

8,693

7,588

32

392

-

16,782

Charge for the year

208

6,548

5,139

14,996

1,303

6,257

-

34,451

Disposals

(55)

-

(91)

(1,597)

(1,742)

(907)

-

(4,392)

Forex

170

3,179

1,098

6,580

613

(780)

-

10,860

As at 31 December 2022

4,440

79,901

81,382

239,308

17,337

22,446

-

444,814

Net book value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2021

553

119,793

52,840

63,644

6,363

-

13,243

256,436

As at 31 December 2022

653

326,233

76,526

85,905

5,188

16,988

11,695

523,188

 

The transfer between classes relates to reclassing the assets which are right of use assets. 

 

 

 

 

Company

 

Office Equipment

Land & Buildings

Motor Vehicle

Right of Use

Total

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Cost






 

As at 1 January 2021

30

54

25

-

109

 

Additions

215

211

-

-

426

 

Disposals

-

-

-

-

-

 

As at 31 December 2021

245

265

25

-

535

 

As at 1 January 2022

245

265

25

-

535

 

Transfer between classes

-

(265)

(25)

290

-

 

Fair value adjustment

-

-

-

(68)

(68)

Additions

14

-

-

-

14

 

Disposals

-

-

-

-

-

 

As at 31 December 2022

259

-

-

222

481

 

Depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2021

22

27

8

-

57

 

Charge for the year

28

13

8

-

49

 

Disposals

-

-

-

-

-

 

As at 31 December 2021

50

40

16

-

106

 

As at 1 January 2022

50

40

16

-

106

 

Transfer between classes

-

(40)

(16)

56

-

 

Charge for the year

50

-

-

68

118

 

Disposals

-

-

-

-

-

 

As at 31 December 2022

100

-

-

124

224

 

Net book value

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2021

195

225

9

-

429

 

As at 31 December 2022

159

-

-

98

257

 

 

 

17.  Intangible Assets

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

Goodwill

Customer Relations

Intellectual property

Research & Development

Branding

Other Intangibles

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cost & net book value








As at 1 January 2021

39,966

3,333

471

1,237

3,398

400

48,805

Additions

-

-

-

-

62

62

Additions through business combination

260,944

-

-

331

-

6,387

267,663

Price Purchase Allocation - Harries

(4,098)

-

-

-

-

-

(4,098)

Amortisation

-

(517)

(85)

(594)

(160)

-

(1,356)

Impairment

-

-

-

(400)

-

(400)

(800)

Forex

(3,373)

-

-

(3)

-

(463)

(3,839)

As at 31 December 2021

293,439

2,816

386

571

3,238

5,986

306,436

As at 1 January 2022 (As previously stated)

293,439

2,816

386

571

3,238

5,986

306,436

Prior year adjustment - refer to Note 39

12,527

-

-

-

-


12,527

As at 1 January 2022 (As restated)

305,966

2,816

386

571

3,238

5,986

318,963

Additions

-

-

-

-

-

1,713

1,713

Additions through business combination

89,096

-

-

-

-

-

89,096

Price Purchase Allocation - B-Mix

(4,429)

-

-

-

-

-

(4,429)

Price Purchase Allocation - Nordkalk

(233,955)

3,795

-

-

-

-

(230,160)

Amortisation

-

(826)

(85)

(87)

(160)

(1,507)

(2,665)

Forex

17,147

-

-

-

-

210

17,357

As at 31 December 2022

173,825

5,785

301

484

3,078

6,402

189,875

 

 

An adjustment has been made to reflect the initial accounting for the acquisition of B-Mix and Nordkalk by the Company, being the elimination of the investment in B-Mix and Nordkalk against the non-monetary assets acquired and recognition of goodwill. In 2022, the Company determined the fair value of the net assets acquired pursuant to the acquisition of B-Mix and Nordkalk, via a Purchase Price Allocation ('PPA') exercise.  For B-Mix, the PPA determined a decrease of £4.4 million of goodwill with the corresponding movement to uplift the value of the Land and Buildings. For Nordkalk, the PPA determined a decrease of £234 million of goodwill with the corresponding movement to uplift the value of the Customer relations, Vehicles, Land and Buildings and Land and Minerals

 

The goodwill total is made up of £40.2 million for Johnston, £81.3 million for Nordkalk, £24.7 million for the PPG Platform, £3.7 million for the Benelux platform, £16.7 million for Dimension Stone, £3.2 million for Harries, £3.7 million for the Ronez and £327,000 for La Belonga.

 

The intangible asset classes are:

Goodwill is the excess of the consideration transferred and the acquisition date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquire over the fair value of the net identifiable assets.

Customer relations is the value attributed to the key customer lists and relationships.

Intellectual property is the patents owned by the Group.

Research and development is the acquiring of new technical knowledge and trying to improve existing processes or products or; developing new processes or products.

Branding is the value attributed to the established company brand.

Other intangibles consist of capitalised development costs for assets produced that assist in the operations of the Group and incur revenue.

 

Amortisation of intangible assets is included in cost of sales on the Income Statement. Development costs have been capitalised in accordance with the requirements of IAS 38 and are therefore not treated, for dividend purposes, as a realised loss.

 

Impairment tests for goodwill

 

Goodwill arising on business combinations is not amortised but is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if there are indications that the goodwill may be impaired. Goodwill is allocated to groups of cash generating units according to the level at which management monitor that goodwill, which is at the level of operating segments.

 

The sixteen operating segments are considered to be Ronez in the Channel Islands; Topcrete, Poundfield, CCP, RightCast, Harries and Johnston in the UK; CDH, Stone, GduH and B-Mix in Belgium; and Quicklime, Nordics, Baltics and Poland in Northern Europe.

 

Key assumptions

The key assumptions used in performing the impairment review are set out below:

 

Cash flow projections

Cash flow projections for each operating segment are derived from the annual budget approved by the Board for 2023 and the five year plan to 2027. The key assumptions on which budgets and forecasts are based include sales volumes, product mix and operating costs. These cash flows are then valued using a discounted cashflow model, with a terminal value based on a perpetuity growth model. Budgeted cash flows are based on past experience and forecast future trading conditions.

 

Long-term growth rates

Cash flow projections are prudently based on 2 per cent and therefore provides plenty of headroom.

 

Discount rate

Forecast cash flows for each operating segment have been discounted at rates of 10 per cent; which was calculated based on market participants' cost of capital and adjusted to reflect factors specific to each operating segment.

 

Sensitivity

The Group has applied sensitivities to assess whether any reasonable possible changes in assumptions could cause an impairment that would be material to these consolidated Financial Statements. This demonstrated that a 1% increase in the discount rate would not cause an impairment and the annual growth rate is assumed to be 2%.

 

The Directors have therefore concluded that no impairment to goodwill is necessary.

 

 

18.  Investment in Subsidiary Undertakings

 

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Shares in subsidiary undertakings

 

 

At beginning of the year

435,085

120,039

Additions

47,537

315,046

Disposals

-

-

At period end

482,622

435,085

Loan to/(from) Group undertakings

100,799

119,110

Total

583,421

554,195

 

Investments in Group undertakings are stated at cost less impairment.

 

Details of subsidiaries at 31 December 2022 are as follows:

Name of subsidiary

Country of incorporation

Share capital held by Company

Share capital held by Group

Principal activities

SigmaFin Limited

England

£45,181,877


Holding company

Foelfach Stone Limited

England


£1

Construction materials

SigmaGsy Limited

Guernsey


£1

Shipping logistics

Ronez Limited

Jersey


£2,500,000

Construction materials

Pallot Tarmac (2002) Limited

Jersey


£2

Road contracting services

Island Aggregates Limited

Guernsey


£6,500

Waste recycling

Topcrete Limited

England


£926,828

Pre-cast concrete producer

A. Larkin (Concrete) Limited

England


£37,660

Dormant

Allen (Concrete) Limited

England


£100

Holding company

Poundfield Products (Group) Limited

England

£22,167


Holding company

Poundfield Products (Holdings) Limited

England


£651

Holding company

Poundfield Innovations Limited

England


£6,357

Patents & licencing

Poundfield Precast Limited

England


£63,568

Pre-cast concrete producer

Greenbloc Limited

England


£1

Dormant

CCP Building Products Limited

England

£50


Construction materials

Cheshire Concrete Products Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Clwyd Concrete Products Limited

England


£100

Dormant

Country Concrete Products Limited

England


£100

Dormant

CCP Trading Limited

England


£100

Dormant

CCP Aggregates Limited

England


£100,000

Construction materials

CDH Développement SA

Belgium

€23,660,763


Holding company

Carrières du Hainaut SCA

Belgium


€16,316,089

Construction materials

Granulats du Hainaut SA

Belgium


€62,000

International marketing

CDH Management 2 SPRL

Belgium


€760,000

Holding company

GDH (Holdings) Limited

England


£54,054

Construction materials

Gerald D. Harries & Sons Limited

England


£112

Construction materials

GD Harries & Sons Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Stone Holding Company SA

Belgium


€100

Construction materials

Cuvelier Philippe SA

Belgium


€750

Construction materials

B-Mix Beton NV

Belgium


€680,600

Concrete producer

J&G Overslag en Kraanbedrijf BV

Belgium


€18,600

Concrete producer

Top Pomping NV

Belgium


€62,000

Concrete producer

Nordkalk Oy Ab

Finland


€1,000,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Nordkalk AB

Sweden


€2,439,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Kalkproduktion Storugns AB

Sweden


€293,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Nordkalk AS

Estonia


€959,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Nordkalk GmbH

Germany


€50,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Nordkalk Sp.z o.o

Poland


€19,637,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Suomen Karbonaatti Oy

Finland


€2,102,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

NKD Holding Oy Ab

Finland


€3,000

Holding company

Nordeka Maden A.S

Turkey


€1,020,000

Limestone quarrying and processing

Baltic Aggregates Oy

Finland


€1

Crushing stone

NK - East Oy

Finland


€8,869

Holding company

Nordkalk Ukraine TOV

Ukraine


€539

Mining rights

Nordkalk Prykarpattya TOV

Ukraine


€308

Dormant

Johnston Quarry Group Limited

England


£190

Holding company

Building Stone Limited

England


£1

Stone producing

CSSL No.2 Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Guiting Quarry Limited

England


£100

Construction materials

Bath Stone Group Limited

England


£110

Holding company

Monks Park Minerals Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Stoke Hill Minerals Limited

England


£13,620

Minerals rights

The Bath Stone Company Limited

England


£1

Construction materials

Hartham Park Minerals Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Costwold Stone Sales Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Flick Quarry Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Creeton Quarry Limited

England


£100

Dormant

Oathill Quarry Limited

England


£1

Dormant

Ropsley Quarry Limited

England


£100

Dormant

Righcast Limited

England


£103

Concrete manufacturer

Canteras La Belonga SA

Spain


€273,575

Construction materials

 

 

Name of subsidiary

Registered office address

SigmaFin Limited

6 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BT

Foelfach Stone Limited

6 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BT

SigmaGsy Limited

Les Vardes Quarry, Route de Port Grat, St Sampson, Guernsey, GY2 4TF

Ronez Limited

Ronez Quarry, La Route Du Nord, St John, Jersey, JE3 4AR

Pallot Tarmac (2002) Limited

Ronez Quarry, La Route Du Nord, St John, Jersey, JE3 4AR

Island Aggregates Limited

Les Vardes Quarry, Route de Port Grat, St Sampson, Guernsey, GY2 4TF

Topcrete Limited

38 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NA

A. Larkin (Concrete) Limited

38 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NA

Allen (Concrete) Limited

38 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NA

Poundfield Products (Group) Limited

The Grove, Creeting St. Peter, Ipswich, England, IP6 8QG

Poundfield Products (Holdings) Limited

The Grove, Creeting St. Peter, Ipswich, England, IP6 8QG

Poundfield Innovations Limited

The Grove, Creeting St. Peter, Ipswich, England, IP6 8QG

Poundfield Precast Limited

The Grove, Creeting St. Peter, Ipswich, England, IP6 8QG

Greenbloc Limited

The Grove, Creeting St. Peter, Ipswich, England, IP6 8QG

CCP Building Products Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

Cheshire Concrete Products Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

Clwyd Concrete Products Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

Country Concrete Products Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

CCP Trading Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

CCP Aggregates Limited

Llay Road, Llay, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL12 0TL

CDH Développement SA

Rue de Cognebeau 245, B-7060 Soignies, Belgium

Carrières du Hainaut SCA

Rue de Cognebeau 245, B-7060 Soignies, Belgium

Granulats du Hainaut SA

Rue de Cognebeau 245, B-7060 Soignies, Belgium

CDH Management 2 SPRL

Rue de Cognebeau 245, B-7060 Soignies, Belgium

GDH (Holdings) Limited

Rowlands View, Templeton, Narbeth, SA67 8RG

Gerald D. Harries & Sons Limited

Rowlands View, Templeton, Narbeth, SA67 8RG

GD Harries & Sons Limited

6 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BT

Stone Holding Company SA

Avenue Louise 292, BE-1050 Ixelles, Belgium

Cuvelier Philippe SA

Avenue Louise 292, BE-1050 Ixelles, Belgium

B-Mix Beton NV

Kanaalweg 110, B-3980 Tessenderlo, Belgium

J&G Overslag en Kraanbedrijf BV

Kanaalweg 110, B-3980 Tessenderlo, Belgium

Top Pomping NV

Kanaalweg 110, B-3980 Tessenderlo, Belgium

Nordkalk Oy Ab

Skräbbölentie 18, FI-21600, Parainen, Finland

Nordkalk AB

Box 901, 731 29 Köping

Kalkproduktion Storugns AB

Strugns, 620 34 Lärbro

Nordkalk AS

Läne-Viru maakond, Väike- Maarja vald, Rakke alevik, F.R Faehlmanni tee 11a, 46301

Nordkalk GmbH

Innungsstrabe 7, 21244 Buchholz in der Nordheide

Nordkalk Sp.z o.o

ul. Plac Na Groblach, nr 21, lok. Miejsc, Krakow, kod 31-101, poczta, Krakow, kraj Polska

Suomen Karbonaatti Oy

Ihalaisen teollisuusalue, 53500 Lappeenranta

NKD Holding Oy Ab

Skräbbölentie 18, 21600 Parainen, Finland

Nordeka Maden A.S

Levent MH.Cömert Sk. Yapi Kredi Blokl.c Blok no.1 c/17 Besiktas

Baltic Aggregates Oy

Skräbbölentie 18, FI-21600, Parainen, Finland

NK - East Oy

Skräbbölentie 18, FI-21600, Parainen, Finland

Nordkalk Ukraine TOV

Ivana Makukha st. 14, 78000, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Tlumach, Ukraine

Nordkalk Prykarpattya TOV

Galytska st 10, 7600 Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

Johnston Quarry Group Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Building Stone Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

CSSL No.2 Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Guiting Quarry Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Bath Stone Group Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Monks Park Minerals Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Stoke Hill Minerals Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

The Bath Stone Company Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Hartham Park Minerals Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Costwold Stone Sales Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Flick Quarry Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Creeton Quarry Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Oathill Quarry Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

Ropsley Quarry Limited

Westfield Lodge Butchers Hill, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, OX7 4AD

RightCast Limited

Unit W4 Junction 38 Business Park, Darton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 5QQ

Canteras La Belonga SA

Oviedo, Cellagu-Latores, 33193, Spain

 

For the year ended 31 December 2022 the following subsidiaries were entitled to exemption from audit under section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 related to the following subsidiary companies:

 

· SigmaFin Limited

· Foelfach Stone Limited

· Topcrete Limited

· A. Larkin (Concrete) Limited

· Allen (Concrete) Limited

· Poundfield Products (Group) Limited

· Poundfield Products (Holdings) Limited

· Poundfield Innovations Limited

· Poundfield Precast Limited

· Greenbloc Limited

· CCP Building Products Limited

· Cheshire Concrete Products Limited

· Clwyd Concrete Products Limited

· Country Concrete Products Limited

· CCP Trading Limited

· CCP Aggregates Limited

· GDH (Holdings) Limited

· Gerald D. Harries & Sons Limited

· GD Harries & Sons Limited

· Johnston Quarry Group Limited

· Building Stone Limited

· CSSL No.2 Limited

· Guiting Quarry Limited

· Bath Stone Group Limited

· Monks Park Minerals Limited

· Stoke Hill Minerals Limited

· The Bath Stone Company Limited

· Hartham Park Minerals Limited

· Costwold Stone Sales Limited

· Flick Quarry Limited

· Creeton Quarry Limited

· Oathill Quarry Limited

· Ropsley Quarry Limited

· RightCast Limited

 

Impairment review

 

The performance of all companies for the year ended 31 December 2022 are in line with forecasted expectations and as such there have been no indications of impairment.

 

 

19.  Investment in Equity Accounted Associates & Joint Ventures

 

Nordkalk has a joint venture agreement with Franzefoss Minerals AS, managing a lime kiln located in Norway which was entered into on 5 August 2004. NorFraKalk AS is the only joint agreement in which the Group participates.

 

The Group has one non-material local associate in Pargas, Pargas Hyreshus Ab.

 

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Interests in associates

576

524

Interest in joint venture

5,942

5,134


6,518

5,658

 

 

 

Proportion of ownership interest held

Name

Country of incorporation

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

NorFraKalk AS

Norway

50%

50%

 

Summarised financial information

 

NorFraKalk AS - Cost and net book value

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Current assets

8,815

10,184

Non-current assets

7,338

6,507

Current liabilities

3,388

3,989

Non-current liabilities

1,872

2,621


21,413

23,301

 

 

For the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022

For the period 1 September 2021 to 31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Revenues

20,055

5,694

Profit after tax from continuing operations

1,602

442

 

 

20.  Trade and Other Receivables

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Trade receivables

78,879

66,166


2,555

1,787

Prepayments

4,917

3,598


358

346

Other receivables

3,009

3,490


255

757

 

86,805

73,254

 

3,168

2,890

Non-current



 



Other receivables

4,259

4,759

 

-

-

 

4,259

4,759

 

-

-

 

The carrying value of trade and other receivables classified as loans and receivables approximates fair value.

 

The carrying amounts of the Group and Company's trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

UK Pounds

21,479

18,731


3,168

2,890

Euros

49,112

38,435


-

-

Swedish Krona

13,945

14,976


-

-

Zlotys

5,803

5,088


-

-

Ukrainian Hryvnia

-

7


-

-

Turkish Lira

725

666


-

-

Russian Ruble

-

110


-

-

 

91,064

78,013

 

3,168

2,890

 

Other classes of financial assets included within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets.

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable mentioned above. The Group does not hold any collateral as security.

 

 

21.  Inventories

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Cost and net book value

£'000

£'000

Raw materials and consumables

26,104

18,642

Finished and semi-finished goods

36,187

22,543

Work in progress

5,489

3,345

 

67,780

44,530

 

The value of inventories recognised as a debit and included in cost of sales was £9 million (31 December 2021: (£10.8 million)).

 

 

22.  Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Cash at bank and on hand

68,623

69,916


5,055

19,038

 

68,623

69,916

 

5,055

19,038

 

All of the Group's cash at bank is held with institutions with a credit rating of at least A-. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis in rare cases where a bank is chosen for geographical reasons, but does not fulfil the stipulated rating criteria.

 

The carrying amounts of the Group and Company's cash and cash equivalents are denominated in the following currencies:

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

'000

31 December 2021

'000

 

31 December 2022

'000

31 December 2021

'000

UK Pounds

8,536

25,555


1,576

14,704

Euros

56,322

43,163


3,479

4,334

Swedish krona

1,100

991


-

-

Zlotys

2,479

17


-

-

Ukrainian Hryvnia

20

64


-

-

Turkish Lira

166

112


-

-

Russian Ruble

-

14


-

-

 

68,623

69,916

 

5,055

19,038

 

 

23.  Trade and Other Payables

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade payables

69,907

55,865


2,964

984

 

Wages Payable

13,662

11,910


1,032

-

 

Accruals

39,627

19,681


4,475

3,402

 

VAT payable/(receivable)

3,785

3,975


(12)

(223)

 

Deferred consideration

5,873

1,331


4,243

730

 

Other payables

7,589

5,451


824

674

 

 

140,443

98,213

 

13,526

5,567

 

Non - Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred consideration

5,051

4,401


5,051

4,401

 

 

5,051

4,401

 

5,051

4,401

 

 

The carrying amounts of the Group and Company's trade and other payables are denominated in the following currencies:

 

 

Group

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

'000

31 December 2021

'000

 

31 December 2022

'000

31 December 2021

'000

UK Pounds

44,493

30,073


16,418

9,539

Euros

69,579

46,161


2,159

429

Swedish krona

21,523

15,924


-

-

Zlotys

9,663

10,336


-

-

Ukrainian Hryvnia

9

9


-

-

Turkish Lira

227

96


-

-

Russian Ruble

-

15


-

-

 

145,494

102,614

 

18,577

9,968

 

 

24.  Borrowings

 

 

Consolidated

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Syndicated Senior Credit Facility

206,342

191,937


206,342

191,937

Bank Loans

2,617

73


-

-

Finance lease liabilities

7,375

8,177


-

-

IFRS 16 leases

12,296

12,012


27

131

 

228,630

212,199

 

206,369

192,068

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Syndicated Senior Credit Facility

20,000

8,000


20,000

8,000

Bank Loans

6,500

5,301


-

-

Finance lease liabilities

2,927

3,442


-

-

IFRS 16 leases

4,419

4,980


72

102

 

33,846

21,723

 

20,072

8,102

 

In July 2021, the Group entered into a new Syndicated Senior Credit Facility of up to £305 million (the 'Credit Facility') led by Santander UK and including several major UK and European banks. The Credit Facility, which comprises a £205 million committed term facility, a £100 million revolving facility commitment and a further £100 million accordion option. This new facility replaces all previously existing bank loans within the Group.

 

The Credit Facility is secured by a floating charge over the assets of SigmaFin Limited, Carrieres du Hainaut and Nordkalk and is secured by a combination of debentures, security interest agreements, pledges and floating rate charges over the assets of SigmaRoc plc, SigmaFin Limited, B-Mix, Carrieres du Hainaut and Nordkalk. Interest is charged at a rate between 1.85% and 3.35% above SONIA ('Interest Margin'), based on the calculation of the adjusted leverage ratio for the relevant period. For the period ending 31 December 2022 the Interest Margin was 2.35%.

 

The carrying amounts and fair value of the non-current borrowings are:

 

 

Carrying amount and fair value

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

 

£'000

£'000

 

Syndicated Senior Credit Facility

206,342

191,937


Bank Loans

2,617

73


Finance lease liabilities

7,375

20,189


IFRS 16 leases

12,296

-


 

228,630

212,199

 

 

 

Finance Lease Liabilities (including IFRS 16 leases)

 

Lease liabilities are effectively secured, as the rights to the leased asset revert to the lessor in the event of default.

 

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Finance lease liabilities - minimum lease payments

£'000

£'000

Not later than one year

7,346

8,037

Later than one year and no later than five years

14,547

14,643

Later than five years

5,124

3,666

 

27,017

26,346

Future finance charges on finance lease liabilities

3,200

2,265

Present value of finance lease liabilities

30,217

28,611

 

For the year ended 31 December 2022, the total finance charges were £0.6m.

 

The contracted and planned lease commitments were discounted using a weighted average incremental borrowing rate of 3%.

 

The present value of finance lease liabilities is as follows:

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Not later than one year

7,566

8,278

Later than one year and no later than five years

14,983

15,082

Later than five years

5,278

3,776

Present value of finance lease liabilities

27,827

27,136

 

 

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities is as follows:

 

 

Consolidated

 

Long-term borrowings

Short-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from financing activities

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

As at 1 January 2022

192,010

13,302

28,611

233,923

Increase/(decrease) through financing cash flows

(10)

(17,371)

(12,980)

(30,361)

Increase from refinancing

26,189

3,023

6,942

36,154

Amortisation of finance arrangement fees

(1,085)

-

-

(1,085)

Increase through obtaining control of subsidiaries

3,205

7,017

4,098

14,320

Transfer between classes

(20,000)

20,000

-

-

Foreign exchange movement

8,650

529

346

9,525

As at 31 December 2022

208,959

26,500

27,017

262,476

 

 

25.  Provisions

 

Consolidated

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

As at 1 January

10,175

6,160

Acquired on business combination

631

5,721

Deduction

(109)

(1,706)

 

10,697

10,175

 

The provision total is made up of £632,011 as a restoration provision for the St John's and Les Vardes sites; £86,812 for the Aberdo site; £172,303 for quarries in Wales; £4.84m for the Nordkalk sites; and £338,943 for the Johnston sites which are all based on the removal costs of the plant and machinery at the sites and restoration of the land. Cost estimates in Jersey and Guernsey are not increased on an annual basis - there is no legal or planning obligation to enhance the sites through restoration. The commitment is to restore the site to a safe environment; thus the provision is reviewed on an annual basis. The estimated expiry on the quarries ranges between 5 - 35 years. 

 

Of the remaining amount, £83,000 is to cover the loss on the Holcim contract in CDH, £106,000 for legal fees, £1.76m for other restructuring costs in the Nordkalk entities and £2.66m is the provision for early retirement in Belgium, where salaried workers can qualify for early retirement based on age. The provision for early retirement consists of the estimated amount that will be paid by the employer to the "early retired workers" till the age of the full pension. Refer to Note 26 for more information.

 

The future reclamation cost value is discounted by 8% (2021: 7.07%) which is the weighted average cost of capital within the Group.

 

 

26.  Retirement benefit schemes

 

The Group sponsors various post-employment benefit plans. These include both defined contribution and defined benefit plans as defined by IAS 19 Employee Benefits.

 

Defined contribution plans

For defined contribution plans outside Belgium, the Group pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension funds or insurance contracts. Once the contributions have been paid, the Group has no further payment obligation. The contributions are expensed in the year in which they are due. For the year ended, contributions paid into defined contribution plans amounted to £317,000.

 

Defined benefit plans

The Group has group insurance plans for some of its Belgian, Swedish and Polish employees funded through defined payments to insurance companies. The Belgian pension plans are by law subject to minimum guaranteed rates of return. In the past the minimum guaranteed rates were 3.25% on employer contributions and 3.75% on employee contributions. A law of December 2015 (enforced on 1 January 2016) modifies the minimum guaranteed rates of return applicable to the Group's Belgian pension plans. For insured plans, the rates of 3.25% on employer contributions and 3.75% on employee contributions will continue to apply to the contributions accumulated before 2016. For contributions paid on or after 1 January 2016, a variable minimum guaranteed rate of return with a floor of 1.75% applies. The Group obtained actuarial calculations for the periods reported based on the projected unit credit method.

 

The Swedish plan provides an old-age pension cover for plan members whereas plan members receive a lump sum payment upon retirement in the Polish plan. Both Swedish and Polish plans are based on collective labour agreements. Through its defined benefit plans, the Group is exposed to a number of risks. A decrease in bond yields will increase the plan liabilities. Some of the Group's pension obligations are linked to inflation and higher inflation will lead to higher liabilities. The majority of the plans obligations are to provide benefits for the life of the plan member, so increases in life expectancy will result in an increase in the plans liabilities.

Employee benefits amounts in the Statement of Financial Position

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Assets

-

-

Liabilities

3,543

4,292

Net defined benefit liability at end of year

3,543

4,292

 

 

Amounts recognised in the Statement of Financial Position

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Present value of funded defined benefit obligations

2,468

2,222

Fair value of plan assets

(2,071)

(2,068)


397

154

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligation

3,128

4,138

Unrecognised past service cost

-

-

Total

3,543

4,292

 

 

Amounts recognised in the Income Statement

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Current service cost

160

32

Interest cost

47

26

Expected return on plan assets

(127)

227

Total pension expense

80

285

 

 

Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Defined benefit obligation at beginning of year

4,292

3,593

Current service cost

160

32

Interest cost

47

26

Benefits paid

(317)

(220)

Remeasurements

(127)

227

Acquired in business combination

-

1,524

Remeasurements in OCI

(844)

-

Other significant events

249

-

Foreign exchange movement

83

(890)

Defined benefit obligation at end of year

3,543

4,292

 

Amounts recognised in the Statement of Changes in Equity

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Prior year cumulative actuarial remeasurements

152

(75)

Remeasurements

(844)

227

Foreign exchange movement

54

-

Cumulative amount of actuarial gains and losses recognised in the Statement of recognised income / (expense)

(638)

152

Movements in the net liability/(asset) recognised in the Statement of Financial Position

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

 

Net liability in the balance sheet at beginning of year

4,292

3,593

 

Total expense recognised in the income statement

207

58

 

Contributions paid by the company

(317)

(220)

 

Amount recognised in the statement of recognised (income)/expense

(127)

227

 

Acquired in business combination

-

1,524

 

Remeasurements in OCI

(844)

-

 

Other significant events

249

-

 

Foreign exchange movement

83

(890)

 

Defined benefit obligation at end of year

3,543

4,292

 

 

 

Principal actuarial assumptions as at 31 December 2022

 

Discount rate

2.77%

Future salary increases

2.56%

Future inflation

2.20%

 

Post-retirement benefits

The Group operates both defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.

 

Pension plans in Belgium are of the defined benefit type because of the minimum promised return on contributions required by law. The liability or asset recognised in the Statement of Financial Position in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of plan assets. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms approximating to the terms of the related obligation. The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. This cost is included in employee benefit expense in the Income Statement. Remeasurement gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognised in the period in which they occur, directly in other comprehensive income. They are included in retained earnings in the Statement of Changes in Equity and in the Statement of Financial Position.

 

For defined contribution plans, the Group pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis. The Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. The contributions are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due.

 

 

27.  Financial Instruments by Category

 

Consolidated

31 December 2022

 

 

Loans & receivables

Total

 

Assets per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments)

86,148

86,148

 

Cash and cash equivalents

68,623

68,623

 

 

154,771

154,771

 

 

 

 

 

 

At amortised cost

Total

 

Liabilities per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

 

Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

235,459

235,459

 

Finance lease liabilities

27,017

27,017

 

Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liabilities)

145,495

145,495

 

 

407,971

407,971

 

 

 

Consolidated

31 December 2021

 

Loans & receivables

Total

Assets per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments)

69,656

69,656

Cash and cash equivalents

69,916

69,916

 

139,572

139,572

 

 

 

 

At amortised cost

Total

Liabilities per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

205,312

205,312

Finance lease liabilities

28,611

Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liabilities)

102,614

102,614

 

336,537

336,537

 

 

Company

31 December 2022

 

Loans & receivables

Total

Assets per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments)

2,810

2,810

Cash and cash equivalents

5,055

5,055

 

7,865

7,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At amortised cost

Total

Liabilities per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

226,342

226,342

Finance lease liabilities

99

99

Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liabilities)

18,577

18,577

 

245,018

245,018

 

 

 

 

Company

31 December 2021

 

Loans & receivables

Total

Assets per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments)

2,544

2,544

Cash and cash equivalents

19,038

19,038

 

21,582

21,582

 

 

 

 

At amortised cost

Total

Liabilities per Statement of Financial Performance

£'000

£'000

Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

199,937

199,937

Finance lease liabilities

233

233

Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liabilities)

9,968

9,968

 

210,138

210,138

 

 

28.  Share Capital and Share Premium

 

 

Number of shares

Ordinary shares

Share premium

Total

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

Issued and fully paid

 

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2021

278,739,186

2,787

107,418

110,205

Exercise of options & warrants - 27 April 2021

1,059,346

11

456

467

Exercise of warrants - 7 May 2021

78,044

1

19

20

Issue of new shares - 31 August 2021 (1)

307,762,653

3,059

249,772

252,831

Issue of new shares - 31 August 2021

50,276,521

521

42,232

42,753

As at 31 December 2021

637,915,750

6,379

399,897

406,276

As at 1 January 2022

637,915,750

6,379

399,897

406,276

Exercise of options & warrants - 4 January 2022

330,594

3

125

128

4

125

129

As at 31 December 2022

638,246,344

6,383

400,022

406,405

 

(1)  Includes issue costs of £8,748,365

 

The authorised share capital consists of 702,070,978 ordinary shares at a par value of 1 penny.

 

On 4 January 2022, the Company issued and allotted 304,580 new Ordinary Shares at a price of 40 pence per share as an exercise of options. On this same day the Company issued and allotted 26,014. new Ordinary Shares at a price of 25 pence per share as an exercise of options.

 

 

29.  Share Options

 

In 2021, the Company introduced a long term incentive plan (LTIP) for senior management personnel. Shares are awarded in the Company and vest in 3 parts over the third, fourth and fifth anniversary to the extent the performance conditions are met.

 

Share options and warrants outstanding and exercisable at the end of the year have the following expiry dates and exercise prices:

 

 

 

 

Options & Warrants

 

 

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Grant date

Expiry date

Exercise price in £ per share

#

#

5 January 2017

30 December 2026

0.25

260,146

286,160

5 January 2017

30 December 2026

0.40

11,878,645

12,183,225

15 April 2019

15 April 2026

0.46

9,030,934

9,340,934

30 December 2019

30 December 2026

0.46

7,976,392

8,389,726




29,146,117

30,200,045

 

The Company and Group have no legal or constructive obligation to settle or repurchase the options or warrants in cash.

 

The Options issued on 5 January 2017 expiry date was extended from 5 January 2022 until 30 December 2026 on 15 December 2021.

 

The fair value of the share options and warrants was determined using the Black Scholes valuation model. The parameters used are detailed below:

 

 

 

 

2017 Options A

2017 Options B

2019 Options C

2019

Options D

Vested on


5/1/2017

5/1/2017

15/4

30/12

Revalued on


15/12/2021

15/12/2021

-

-

Life (years)


5

5

7

7

Share price


0.8295

0.8295

0.465

0.525

Risk free rate


0.40%

0.40%

0.31%

0.55%

Expected volatility


31.32%

31.32%

4.69%

8.19%

Expected dividend yield


-

-

-

-

Marketability discount


-

-

-

-

Total fair value


£58,345

£661,604

£419,130

£729,632

 

The risk-free rate of return is based on zero yield government bonds for a term consistent with the option life.

 

The volatility is calculated by dividing the standard deviation of the closing share price from the prior six months by the average of the closing share price from the prior six months.

 

2017 Options A and B were extended for another 5 years by the Board on 15 December 2021 and were revalued on this day.

 

A reconciliation of options and warrants and LTIP awards granted over the year to 31 December 2021 is shown below:

 

Options and warrants

 

31 December 2022

 

31 December 2021

 

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

#

£

 

#

£

Outstanding at beginning of the year

30,200,045

0.45

 

25,416,105

0.42

Granted

-

-


-

-

Vested

-

-


5,921,330

0.46

Exercised

(1,053,927)

0.44


(1,137,390)

0.40

Outstanding as at year end

29,146,117

0.44

 

30,200,045

0.45

Exercisable at year end

29,146,117

0.44

 

30,200,045

0.45

 

 

LTIP awards

 

31 December 2022

 

31 December 2021

 

 

Weighted average valuation price

 

 

Weighted average valuation price

 

#

£

 

#

£

Outstanding at beginning of the year

-

-

 

-

-

Granted

25,620,000

0.69


25,620,000

0.69

Vested

-

-


-

-

Exercised

-

-


-

-

Outstanding as at year end

25,620,000

0.69

 

25,620,000

0.69

Exercisable at year end

-

-

 

-

-

 

 

30.  Other Reserves

 

 

 

Group

 

Deferred shares

Capital redemption reserve

Revaluation reserve

Capital reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

As at 1 January 2021

762

600

-

-

1,931

3,293

Other comprehensive income

-

-

1,037

-

-

1,037

Currency translation differences

-

-

-

-

(15,566)

(15,566)

As at 31 December 2021

762

600

1,037

-

(13,635)

(11,236)

As at 1 January 2022

762

600

1,037

-

(13,635)

(11,236)

Other comprehensive income

-

-

3,634

-

-

3,634

Currency translation differences

-

-

-

-

17,176

17,176

Other equity adjustments

-

-

-

687

-

687

As at 31 December 2022

762

600

4,671

687

3,541

10,261

 

 

31.  Non-controlling interests

 

 

Group

£'000

As at 1 January 2022

10,894

Shares issued to non-controlling interest

-

Acquired in business combination

974

Non-controlling interests share of profit in the period

2,343

Dividends paid

(3,038)

Foreign exchange movement

559

As at 31 December 2022

11,732

 

 

 

 

31 December 2022

 

31 December 2021

 

Suomen Karbonaatti

Other individually immaterial subsidiaries

 

Suomen Karbonaatti

Other individually immaterial subsidiaries

 

£'000

£'000

 

£'000

£'000

Current assets

17,592

12,427


22,164

3,970

Non-current assets

3,348

19,605


4,430

13,166

Current liabilities

7,975

7,627


6,100

2,232

Non-current liabilities

5,767

4,361


9,011

885

Net Assets

7,197

20,045

 

11,483

14,019

Net Assets Attributable to NCI

3,527

7,366

 

3,981

5,905


 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

37,760

23,662


52,245

9,734

Profit after taxation

3,294

1,993


6,748

148

Other comprehensive income

-

-


-

-

Total comprehensive income

3,294

1,993

 

6748

148

Net operating cash flow

4,196

1,556


7,326

1,596

Net investing cash flow

(679)

(2,782)


(603)

(2,170)

Net financing cash flow

(6,208)

1,701


(6,012)

(4,040)

Dividends paid to NCI

3,038

-

 

601

 -

 

 

32.  Earnings Per Share

 

The calculation of the total basic earnings per share of 4.89 pence (2021: (1.89) pence) is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders of £31,238 million (2021: loss of £6,971 million) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares of 638,243,627 (2021: 400,170,256) in issue during the period.

 

Diluted earnings per share of 4.68 pence (2021: (1.77) pence) is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders of £31,238 million (2021: loss of £6,971 million) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period plus the weighted average number of share options and warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares in the Company, which together total 667,430,527 (2021: 427,854,251). The weighted average number of shares is the opening balance of ordinary shares plus the weighted average of 327,877 shares.

 

Details of share options that could potentially dilute earnings per share in future periods are disclosed in Note 29 .

 

 

33.  Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Amortised Costs

 

The following table shows the carrying amounts and fair values of the financial assets and liabilities, including their levels in the fair value hierarchy. It does not include fair value information for financial assets and financial liabilities not measured at fair value if the carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value.

 

Items where the carrying amount equates to the fair value are categorised to three levels:

· Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date

· Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

· Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

 

 

 

Carrying Amount

 

Fair value

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 






 



 

Forward exchange contracts

-

436

1,526

-

-

1,962

-

1,962

1,962

CO2 emission hedge

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Electricity hedges

-

-

13,493

-

-

13,493

13,493

-

13,493

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials assets not measured at fair value

Trade and other receivables (excl. Derivatives)

-

-

-

91,065

-

91,065

-

-

-

Cash and cash equivalents

-

-

-

68,623

-

68,623

-

-

-







 



 

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Forward exchange contracts

-

-

1,441

-

-

1,441

-

1,441

1,441

Electricity hedges

-

-

5,804

-

-

5,804

5,804

-

5,804







 



 

Financial liabilities not measured at fair value

Loans

-

-

-

-

235,459

235,459

-

-

-

Finance lease liability

-

-

-

-

27,017

27,017

-

-

-

Trade and other payables (excl. derivative)

-

-

-

-

145,495

145,495

-

-

-

 

 

34.  Business Combinations

 

Johnston Quarry Group

 

On 31 January 2022, the Group acquired 100 per cent of the share capital of Johnston Quarry Group Limited ('JQG') for a cash consideration of £35.5 million (being £35.5 million less adjustments for various obligations assumed by the Group as part of the acquisition). JQG is registered and incorporated in England. JQG is a high-quality producer of construction aggregates, building stone and agricultural lime. 

 

The following table summarises the consideration paid for JQG and the values of the assets and equity assumed at the acquisition date.

 

Total consideration

£'000

Cash consideration

42,046

Repayment of loan

(6,996)

Deferred consideration

8,500


43,550

 

 

Recognised amounts of assets and liabilities acquired

£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

1,587

Trade and other receivables

2,160

Inventories

881

Property, plant & equipment

16,896

Trade and other payables

(5,840)

Borrowings

(10,795)

Provisions

(325)

Income tax payable

(350)

Deferred tax liability

(826)

Total identifiable net assets

3,388

Goodwill

40,162

Total consideration

43,550

 

Since 31 January 2022 JQG has contributed a profit of £4.5 million and revenue of £16.5 million. Had JQG been consolidated from 1 January 2022, the consolidated statement of income would show additional profit of £11,000 and revenue of £1.2 million.

 

 

RightCast Limited

 

On 27 April 2022, the Group acquired 100 per cent of the share capital of RightCast Limited ('RightCast') and its subsidiaries for a cash consideration of £2.55 million. RightCast is registered and incorporated in England. RightCast is a precast company specialising in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of bespoke precast concrete products.

 

The following table summarises the consideration paid for RightCast and the values of the assets and equity assumed at the acquisition date.

 

Total consideration

£'000

Initial Cash

2,550

Working capital adjustment

297

Cash acquired and repatriated to vendors

690

Deferred consideration

450


3,987

 

Recognised amounts of assets and liabilities acquired

£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

315

Trade and other receivables

1,153

Inventories

462

Property, plant & equipment

75

Trade and other payables

(474)

Income tax payable

(57)

Deferred tax liability

(19)

Total identifiable net assets

1,455

Goodwill (refer to Note 17)

2,532

Total consideration

3,987

 

Since 27 April 2022 RightCast has contributed a profit of £0.5 million and revenue of £2.8 million. Had RightCast been consolidated from 1 January 2022, the consolidated statement of income would show additional profit of £0.1 million and revenue of £0.9 million.

 

 

La Belonga

 

On 31 July 2022, the Group acquired 65 per cent of the share capital of La Belonga with the remaining 35 per cent acquired by CdB. for a cash consideration of €2.2 million. La Belonga is registered and incorporated in Spain. La Belonga is a high-quality producer of limestone. 

 

The following table summarises the consideration paid for La Belonga and the values of the assets and equity assumed at the acquisition date.

 

Total consideration

£'000

Net cash consideration

1,919

Deferred consideration

1,129


3,048

 

 

Recognised amounts of assets and liabilities acquired

£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

127

Trade and other receivables

2,253

Investments

46

Inventories

619

Deferred tax asset

7

Property, plant & equipment

4,740

Intangible assets

23

Trade and other payables

(1,500)

Borrowings

(3,374)

Provisions

(220)

Total identifiable net assets

2,721

Goodwill

327

Total consideration

3,048

 

Since 31 July 2022 La Belonga has contributed a profit of £0.1 million and revenue of £1.3 million. Had La Belonga been consolidated from 1 January 2022, the consolidated statement of income would show additional profit of £19,000 and revenue of £3.2 million.

 

35.  Contingencies

 

The Group is not aware of any material personal injury or damage claims open against the Group.

 

 

36.  Related party transactions

 

Loans with Group Undertakings

Amounts receivable/(payable) as a result of loans granted to/(from) subsidiary undertakings are as follows:

 

Company

 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

 

£'000

£'000

Ronez Limited

(22,764)

(18,328)

SigmaGsy Limited

(7,663)

(5,705)

SigmaFin Limited

20,549

20,146

Topcrete Limited

(10,346)

(9,494)

Poundfield Products (Group) Limited

5,356

5,501

Foelfach Stone Limited

557

466

CCP Building Products Limited

4,586

5,647

Carrières du Hainaut SCA

14,948

18,251

GDH (Holdings) Limited

10,035

9,588

B-Mix Beton NV

8,013

1,295

Stone Holdings SA

384

376

Nordkalk Oy Ab

70,196

91,367

Johnston Quarry Group

7,747

-

RightCast Limited

(799)

-

 

100,799

119,110

 

Loans granted to or from subsidiaries are unsecured, have interest charged at 2% and are repayable in Pounds Sterling on demand from the Company.

 

All intra Group transactions are eliminated on consolidation.

 

 

37.  Ultimate Controlling Party

 

The Directors believe there is no ultimate controlling party.

 

 

38.  Events After the Reporting Date

 

On 28 February 2023, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately £30 million through the issue of 55,555,555 new Ordinary Shares at a price of 54 pence per share.

 

On 10 March, the Company announced the completion of the Goijens and the Juuan Dolomitik acquisitions for an aggregate consideration of £12 million. Goijens operates two concrete plants and concrete recycling facilities, as well as pumping and other services and Juuan Dolomitik, a specialist supplier of high-quality dolomitic limestone. They will be immediately enhancing to the Group's underlying earnings, and the acquisitions were funded from the net cash proceeds generated by the Group's equity fundraising in February 2023.

 

No further financial information on these transactions is available at this time, due to the proximity of the acquisitions to the reporting date of these financial statements.

 

On 15 March 2023, the Company announced that it had been successful in its claim to seek compensation from the Swedish state in respect of land use restrictions. The verdict, pronounced on 14 March 2023, made an award to Nordkalk in compensation for economic loss, of which a sum of c. SEK 188 million (c. £17 million) that is to be adjusted for inflation and interest until payment is made, is receivable by the Group as its share. The verdict is subject to appeal until 4 April 2023 and receipt of funds remains subject to the outcome of any appeal, if lodged.

 

 

39.  Prior year restatement

 

As part of previously made acquisitions, a PPA exercise was performed to split out separately identifiable assets from acquired goodwill.  On completion of this exercise, the deferred tax impact on the fair value uplift of the assets identified during the PPA was not correctly reflected in line with IAS 12. As a result, a prior year adjustment is required which results in an increase to the Group's deferred tax liability of £12,527,074 with acquired goodwill increasing by the same amount.  There are no changes to the prior period income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity or the statement of cash flows.

 

The impact of the prior year restatement in respect of the classification of the investments held are as follows:

 

 

2021

As presented

£'000

 

Restatement

£'000

2021

As restated

£'000

Non-current assets




Intangible assets

306,436

12,527

318,963

Non-current liabilities


 

 

Deferred tax liability

5,190

12,527

17,717

Net assets

411,154

-

411,154

 

 

 



[1] Where industry specifications allow for it

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
FR SESFUMEDSEFD

Companies

Sigmaroc (SRC)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings